Rule Breakers

by Mike McGranaghan

Underdog tales generally follow the same template. It’s the specifics that make them different. From a storytelling perspective, Rule Breakers does not do what its title implies. The film adheres to the template faithfully. However, the characters and central situation are unique, allowing it to become rousing feel-good entertainment.

Based on actual occurrences, the movie focuses on Roya Mahboob (Nikohl Boosheri), a woman who assembles a team to compete in high school robotics competitions. The hitch is that all her recruits are Afghan girls. Each of them is off-the-charts gifted in math or science, but their male-dominated culture generally frowns upon anything that might advance females. (Getting permission from their strict fathers proves to be a massive hurdle). Once the team is formed, the girls travel the world taking part in events, only to face additional challenges – some based on their ethnicity, others reflective of their country being behind others technologically.

Early scenes in Rule Breakers are gripping because they show how much resistance Roya gets. She firmly believes Afghan girls deserve to develop STEM skills. Not everyone shares that opinion, and a few actively try to stand in her way. Additional drama comes from seeing the young women struggle with the clash between their personal goals and what society dictates of them. There are huge costs to participating, especially earning the wrath of family members.

In the second half, the movie focuses on the robotics competitions. We get to see what the teams have to make, what their creations need to do, and how the girls overcome various problems that present themselves. During one event, their robot parts are held up in customs, putting them drastically behind everybody else. Director Bill Guttentag deftly weaves back and forth between on-the-floor activity and behind-the-scenes drama.

The personalities of the characters are thinly drawn. Each girl has her own mini arc that’s intermittently touched upon, and that’s about it. Despite that, the actresses playing the team members – Amber Afzali, Nina Hossinzedah, Sara Malal Rowe, and Mariam Saraj – give ingratiating performances. We root for the “Afghan Dreamers” because their sincerity and drive are made apparent by the performers. Boosheri is also very likeable as the determined coach, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivers a nice supporting turn as an official in the competition.

Rule Breakers is the first release from Angel Studios that doesn’t have a religious component to the story, so if you’re the type of person who shies away from faith-based fare, don’t feel you need to avoid it. The film is wholesome and inspiring, a perfect antidote to our cynical times.

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