A determined Tehran teenager uses her talent as a rapper to defy centuries of custom and tradition in director Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami’s stirring documentary, Sonita
Twenty years ago, The Notorious B.I.G. once said in his song, ‘Things Done Changed,’ “you know the streets is a short stop, you either slinging’ crack rock or you have a wicked jump shot.” Biggie failed to mention that artistic talent is another way to escape one’s circumstances. In the documentary, we are introduced to a bright, insightful young teen, Sonita Alizadeh, who has left her home country and now is sponsored by an Iranian family studying away from home.
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She idolizes local acts and has the awareness to stand up against the tradition of fathers selling their daughters into marriage to support their families. Instead of preparing to be a wife and mother like many of her teenage friends, Sonita dreams of being a rapper and pulling the curtain back to expose the ugly system of chattel slavery that many like herself are continually subjected.
While the narrative of underdogs overcoming their circumstances enjoying a brighter future, what stands out in this story is the involvement of the storyteller. Notable documentary directors, such as Michael Moore, are known for injecting themselves into this story but Ghaem Maghami takes it one step further – not only casually appearing in the story but becoming personally involved.
Desperate for money to help her younger brother marry, Sonita’s grandmother comes back to retrieve her so that she can be sold into marriage for a sizable fee. Her school principal attempts to step in and stop one of her prize pupils from being pulled from the school, but balks at the grandmother’s extortion fee to buy her additional time. It is in these moments that the doc transforms from a feel-good story to an ugly, insidious examination of a tradition that has long outlived its usefulness.
There is a scene in F. Gary Gray’s Straight Outta Compton where the group is harassed by local cops outside of their recording studio that served as the impetus for Ice Cube’s damning anthem, ‘F*ck the Police.’ Similarly, in this doc, Sonita finds her voice as she is being pulled in multiple directions and the stress and strain are obviously overwhelming her. With no outlet but her music, Sonita delivers a stunning music video, detailing her conditions entitled, ‘Brides for Sale.’ If the lyrical content doesn’t drive home her message, her presentation surely will – it is powerful.
While it is generally not advisable for a filmmaker’s personal feelings to become a part of the story, for reasons unknown, Ghaem Maghami’s involvement proves vital. She just doesn’t shadow her subject but their relationship evolves from an interviewer/interviewee almost into a partnership. Completely out of options and with nowhere else to turn, Sonita’s only choices were to return to her home and be sold into marriage or the filmmaker providing economic assistance to buy her enough time to continue to follow her dream.
Over the past twelve months, there have been several international documentaries of young women defying traditions and customs such as Difret and He Named Me Malala, Sonita is another example that even in this century, conditions for young teenage girls still are horrible in many countries outside of the United States. While this talented teen may have the chance to find her ‘happiness forever after,’ there are so many other girls who may possess the talent or have the opportunity to break away and discover their truth. That is the real tragedy behind this unforgettable and highly-effective story that begs for a wider audience!
While this talented teen may have the chance to find her ‘happiness forever after,’ there are so many other girls who may possess the talent yet not have the opportunity to break away and discover their truth. That is the real tragedy behind this unforgettable and highly-effective story that begs for a wider audience!
Grade: B+