SONITA

"Endlessly surprising … filmmaker Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami discovered a goldmine when she came across Sonita. Five Stars." – The Guardian

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema – Documentary) at Sundance and audience awards at both Sundance and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, among other prizes, Sonita tells the remarkable, inspiring story of its namesake: a gutsy, defiant 14-year-old Afghan refugee living in Iran whose dream in life is to become the next Rihanna. However rather than money and fame, Sonita raps about what she knows: the misogyny, oppression and forced marriage rampant in her homeland. But when Sonita's estranged mother turns up on her doorstep to take her back to Afghanistan so Sonita herself can be sold off, the subjects of her art suddenly become very real and dangerous.

Acclaimed documentarian Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami turns in her most compassionate, provocative and uplifting work yet in Sonita. An unashamedly personal film that actively blurs the line between observation and involvement, Sonita is the feel-good tale of the year – but one that challenges the very nature of what documentary is or should be.

"An intriguing and troubling – on many levels – documentary which should provoke debate amongst professionals and a great degree of sympathy with all viewers." – Screen Daily

Screens with 1001 Nights in Fairfield.