Runtime2hGenreDramaDirected byBill GuttentagWritten byJason Brown, Bill Guttentag, Elaha MahboobStarringNikohl Boosheri, Christian Contreras, Ali FazalDistributed byAngel StudiosMPAA RatingPG
‘Rule Breakers’ Review: One Giant Leap for Womankind
International Women’s Day kicks off with the inspiring story of heroine Roya Mahboob.
Angel Studios is kicking off International Women’s Day by releasing the inspiring historical drama Rule Breakers. Conventional in its storytelling yet powerful nonetheless, the film is based on the true story of Roya Mahboob, one of Afghanistan’s first female IT entrepreneurs. It charts her relentless determination to give young girls the opportunity to study science and break free from the country’s oppressive regime. In addition to correlating to Women’s History Month, Rule Breakers is releasing ahead of National STEM Week, which kicks off on March 14th.
Some Rules Are Made to Be Broken
Roya Mahboob (Nikohl Boosher) is an iconoclast. As the founder of Afghanistan’s women’s robotics team and a global advocate for women’s education, she lives to inspire others. Despite her country’s belief that educating girls is an act of rebellion, Roya continues to defy naysayers and critics by championing STEM in the local school system. She understands the importance of introducing kids, especially young girls, to science. It’s no secret that educating the youth is their only way out of the current social oppression.
Despite Roya’s good faith attempts to modernize the country, she is continuously met with the harsh reality that not everyone wants women to have autonomy. But this doesn’t deter Roya. In fact, quite the opposite. Taking matters into her own hands, she organizes a small robotics team of four high school-aged girls. Together, they create a stunning mine detection robot made from old car parts. Their invention quickly earns them global attention. With all eyes on Afghanistan, Roya finally has her moment to prove to the world why education is not just a choice, but a right.
Takeaway
Rule Breakers is a classic underdog story with a happy ending. Academy Award-winning director Bill Guttentag (Soundtrack for a Revolution) tells this inspirational drama with heartwarming conviction, despite its formulaic, paint-by-numbers Hollywood structure. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this execution, it does feel too conventional and safe, especially for a story about a woman known for pushing the boundaries. However, giving Roya Mahboob and Afghanistan’s first robotics team a platform to share their story is a film worth watching and supporting.
