Parents' Guide to Rule Breakers

This is a heartwarming underdog story about a real group of Afghan girls overcoming serious odds to compete at an international level. Director Bill Guttentag, working from a script he co-wrote with Jason Brown and Elaha Mahboob (Roya's sister, who's portrayed in the movie), does a fine job of balancing the sociopolitical difficulties and violence faced by everyone involved with the fun and suspense of the Afghan Dreamers' competition journey. Rule Breakers doesn't shy away from Afghanistan's religious and cultural strictures against girls stepping outside conventional roles, but it also portrays supportive figures like Roya's progressive father and her brave brother, who agrees to coach the team.

The film's main limitation is the difficulty of fully developing each of the four girls' backstories, relying instead on broad strokes to establish their family and village contexts. Understandably, the narrative chooses to prioritize their potential futures rather than their challenging social or home situations, highlighting their dreams of bucking tradition, pursuing higher education abroad, and becoming engineers or entrepreneurs like their mentor, Roya. The entire ensemble is believable and committed to their roles. In the supporting cast, Phoebe Waller-Bridge pops up as an empathetic emcee at a crucial competition, and Ali Fazal is a source of positivity as Roya's U.S.-based collaborator who helps secure funding for the team. Ultimately, Rule Breakers delivers an inspiring tale of perseverance that effectively showcases how determination and support can help young women break through barriers and reshape their destinies.