Rule Breakers isn’t just another film about oppression—it’s a window into a world that many of us have heard about but rarely truly understand. When I sat down to watch this movie, I wasn’t sure if it would offer anything new to the conversation about women’s rights in Afghanistan. We’ve seen documentaries and news reports, but this film manages to humanize the statistics in a way that caught me off guard.

Acting

The ensemble cast delivers performances that stay with you long after the credits roll. Nikohl Boosheri in particular brings a quiet intensity to her role as Roya Mahboob, especially in the scene where she first decides to defy the rules that have constrained her entire life. The subtle shift in her expression from fear to determination speaks volumes without a single word of dialogue. If you’ve seen her in the series Altered Carbon, you’ll notice how she brings that same emotional authenticity but with an entirely different cultural context.

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Pacing

What impressed me about Rule Breakers is how it balances its heavy subject matter with moments that allow the audience to breathe. The director never rushes through important emotional beats, yet the film never feels like it’s dragging. The story unfolds naturally, building tension as the characters take increasingly bold risks, making the climax feel both inevitable and shocking.

Cultural Message

What makes Rule Breakers particularly relevant today is how it doesn’t just present these women as victims but as active agents fighting for change in their own ways. The film arrived at a critical moment, as the world has watched the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan with renewed concerns about women’s rights. For Western audiences, it offers a nuanced perspective beyond the headlines, while for those more familiar with the region, it may resonate as an authentic portrayal that avoids the typical Hollywood oversimplification.

Rule Breakers isn’t always an easy watch—nor should it be—but it’s an essential one. It reminds us that sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply to live authentically in a world that demands conformity. In an era where women’s rights are being challenged globally, not just in Afghanistan, this film feels less like a foreign story and more like a universal warning. Don’t miss it.

Grade: A

If you liked this…

If you appreciated films like Persepolis or Osama, you’ll find Rule Breakers occupies similar territory but with its own distinct voice. Unlike many Western-made films about the Middle East, it avoids both sentimentality and sensationalism, offering something more honest and ultimately more impactful.

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There are extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Rule Breakers.

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Plot
Set between 2017-2019, this is the real life journey of the first all girls’ Robotics team from Afghanistan, founded by Roya Mahboob, who self-taught themselves to write code and fought all odds to win championships worldwide.