Parents' Guide to

I Am a Girl

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Intense, eye-opening docu about growing up around the world.

Movie NR 2014 88 minutes
I Am a Girl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Six girls from six different countries are the focus of I AM A GIRL, a documentary that examines what it means to be a young woman in a world largely run by men. The girls, who range in age from 16 to 19, have much in common, though their lives are very different. The most obvious contrast is between the two from developed nations -- Katie from Australia and Breani from the United States -- and the other four, who live in much different circumstances in Asia and Africa. Certainly Katie and Breani have more comfortable lives than Aziza, who lives in Afghanistan; Manu, who's about to give birth in Papua New Guinea; Habiba, a teen bride in Cameroon; and Kimsey, a Cambodian prostitute. But what they all share is the struggle to define themselves, sometimes with support from -- and sometimes despite -- their families. It becomes clear that while each must overcome different hurdles, they're all fighting a similar fight for the right to not to be defined by men.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

I Am a Girl is unforgettable and deeply moving, and not just because many of its subjects share such personal, often heartbreaking stories. It's easy to feel immediate compassion for Kimsey, whose life full of horrors includes selling her virginity at 12, or Manu, who was sent away by her father when she got pregnant. By contrast, Katie and Breani appear to have comparatively less tumult in their lives.

But as the movie continues, viewers learn that they, too, have had challenges -- including depression, attempted suicide, and an absent father. That's what makes this documentary so profound: It reveals how, no matter where you're from, growing up as a girl has its unique challenges. Director Rebecca Barry has stitched together a narrative both wrenching and uplifting. For despite these difficulties, the stories also show the girls' shared sense of optimism and the belief that good things can and will happen to them. We certainly hope so.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the girls in the movie. How do their experiences differ from yours? What do you have in common? What do you think filmmakers might include in a documentary about your life?

  • How did the girls' stories affect you -- especially the parts about depression, prostitution, exploitation, and being abandoned by family members?

  • What's the movie's ultimate message? What do you think it's hoping to accomplish?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate