Difret

Description

In rural Ethiopia, a few hours outside of Addis Ababa, men on horseback, following local tradition, kidnap 14-year-old Hirut (Tizita Hagera) in a bid to force her to marry another villager. Her attempt to free herself from a preordained future sets off a legal firestorm in this powerful drama inspired by a true story that pits the law against an entrenched cultural mindset. Hirut’s only hope of escaping a dark fate comes in the form of Meaza (Meron Getnet), a confident young lawyer from the city and an advocate for women’s rights. In taking on Hirut’s case, which has become a cause célèbre, Meaza confronts both the government and entrenched attitudes toward women—attitudes that affect her and her career as much as they do her client. Director Zeresenay Berhane Mehari captures Ethiopia’s scenic beauty, as well as the ugliness of customs that endanger the lives and futures of young women. Based on a true story, Difret—the winner of audience awards at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals—is not only a compelling , suspenseful equal-rights saga, rife with political, cultural and legal insights, but also a hopeful, moving and provocative drama about resilience and the pursuit of justice. –Tim Sika

Film Details