"Based on a true story, Bill Guttentag's rousing drama attests to the resilience of women who dare to dream despite draconian social strictures. The film follows Roya Mahboob (Nikohl Boosheri), a trailblazing coach and businesswoman in Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) who assembles a robotics team of Afghan girls for international competitions. The young dreamers hail from different walks of life but they all share the same zest for engineering."
"They face the same dangers too; in a country where women are not encouraged or even allowed to pursue higher levels of education, their quest for medals sees opposition from their own families as well as public scorn from conservatives. Rule Breakers is at its most thrilling during the competition sequences, which splice together real-life documentary footage of the events with fictional re-enactments. (There's even an appearance from Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a host.)"
"A breathless enthusiasm thrums through the film, as the camera swirls around the young competitors, all energised by their love for science. These spaces are portrayed as a haven that encourages camaraderie rather than competitiveness, and in a world divided by military conflicts and war, they offer a utopiian vision of international collaboration and solidarity. When it comes to the darker aspects of the story, though, Rule Breakers is less assured."
Rule Breakers follows Roya Mahboob, a coach and businesswoman who forms a robotics team of Afghan girls competing internationally. The team members come from diverse backgrounds and share a passion for engineering while confronting familial opposition, public scorn, and societal barriers to women's education. Competition sequences interweave documentary footage and fictional reenactments, including a cameo by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a host. The narrative highlights camaraderie, utopian international collaboration, and energetic celebration of science, but only briefly addresses the war in Afghanistan, visa rejections, and the political complexity of Western support versus domestic oppression, resulting in a largely feelgood tone that lacks deeper nuance.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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