X
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • Amplify
  • 1 h 39 m
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • Amplify
  • 1 h 39 m

Summary When 14-year-old Hirut is abducted in her rural village’s tradition of kidnapping women for marriage, she fights back, accidentally killing her captor and intended husband. Local law demands a death sentence for Hirut, but Meaza, a tough and passionate lawyer from a women’s legal aide practice, steps in to fight for her. With both Hirut’...

Directed By: Zeresenay Mehari

Written By: Zeresenay Mehari

  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • Amplify
  • 1 h 39 m
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • Amplify
  • 1 h 39 m

Difret

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
61
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary When 14-year-old Hirut is abducted in her rural village’s tradition of kidnapping women for marriage, she fights back, accidentally killing her captor and intended husband. Local law demands a death sentence for Hirut, but Meaza, a tough and passionate lawyer from a women’s legal aide practice, steps in to fight for her. With both Hirut’...

Directed By: Zeresenay Mehari

Written By: Zeresenay Mehari

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
61
36% Positive
4 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
61
36% Positive
4 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
88
Oct 29, 2015
This film is a necessary reminder of what can happen when people preserve tradition for its own sake.
FULL REVIEW
70
Nov 6, 2015
There’s more than a whiff of the didactic in Difret, a film overly earnest in spelling out its cause in more-than-occasional exposition. But it is otherwise an affecting drama that is honest and clear-eyed about Hirut’s trauma, and the ongoing struggles she’ll face even if she’s freed, without ever treating her abuse in an exploitative manner.
By Barbara VanDenburgh FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
83% Positive
5 Ratings
17% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
83% Positive
5 Ratings
17% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

70
Dec 11, 2014
One of Difret's strengths is the care it takes to present many of Ethiopia's traditions in a respectful way.
By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW
60
Oct 20, 2015
It’s just a shame the film is slightly ragged, with a tendency to preach when there’s more than enough drama to get the point across. Still, it’s an important story, told with commitment.
By Trevor Johnston FULL REVIEW
60
Mar 2, 2015
Quietly compelling, but lacks finesse in its characterisation and dogged denunciation of the Ethiopian justice system
By David Parkinson FULL REVIEW
60
Dec 11, 2014
Quite powerful despite relying on familiar storytelling tropes.
By Boyd van Hoeij FULL REVIEW
50
Dec 11, 2014
The unwillingness to let nuance communicate lends a flat quality to the drama here; after the initial crimes, suspense situations are simply lopped off prematurely, the action jumping clumsily to their aftermath.
By Dennis Harvey FULL REVIEW
See All 11 Critic Reviews

Details

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Production Company Haile Addis Pictures, Truth Aid
Release Date Oct 23, 2015
Duration 1 h 39 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
Website http://www.difret.com/
View All Details

Awards

Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Berlin International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations

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