MIFF NOTES: Sonita (2015, Dir. Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami)

A lot is made about documentary filmmakers and their involvement in the events they seek to document. As much as they’d like us to believe otherwise, no documentary film crew is inconspicuous. Their presence is always felt onscreen and off. But there aren’t too many film makers that cross that invisible barrier and end up front of camera, fewer still who take a direct role in proceedings.

Then there’s Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, who takes filmmaker interference to a whole new level in her documentary on young Afgani rapper, Sonita Alizadeh.

It's really not worth complaining about, though; anyone in Maghami's shoes, faced with the disarming straightforwardness of Sonita and the bright-future crumbling issues she faces, would do the same, documentary filmmaker or not. The fact that the predicament ties so neatly into her film's concerns and that so much is attention is paid to calling out the line-crossing (did the sound guy's admonishment really need to make it into the final cut?), is a little questionable though.

Be that as it may, it doesn't change the fact that Sonita has at its core an intrinsically worthy subject, one who takes no time in winning her audience over. She is a resilient, tough talking, intelligent young woman who has made much of her unfortunate circumstances and continues to rail against them even when her dreams are directly threatened. She is a beacon of hope for young women all around her, both in her direct vicinity (the shelter in which she works) and across the world (via her youtube music videos).

A remarkable girl. A remarkable story. And an artist/activist to watch.

★★★

Trailer:

Sonia screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.