i wanted to like duhktar a little more than i did. i thought that the acting and the the cinematography especially were both solid, but the script and direction were both a little weak. it left me not as engaged with the story–which is indeed a powerful one–as i could have been. most of the characters felt rather one dimensional, like they didn’t ever rise above the broad archetypes (i wouldn’t have been very surprised if some of the villains had twirled their mustaches) they were drawn from. the same could be said for the narrative itself, while i found it at times to be moving and engaging, there were stretches where it plodded along ham-fistedly as well. i guess my main issue is that the film didn’t seem to go anywhere we might not have expected it to from the outset. not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that; many great movies don’t set out, first and foremost, to subvert the viewers’ expectations. but i think most great movies make familiar themes and stories feel engaging and thought provoking in an original, organic way. it seemed like the filmmakers assumed the harrowing subject matter would instantly give the film credibility, and while i think dukhtar does indeed tell an important story–a story everyone should be aware of–it doesn’t entirely succeed on its own terms as a movie. the film’s premise is indeed horrifying and, i’m sure, dishearteningly accurate to the experiences of many pakistani young women, however, as i’ve said, i wish it had done a better job conveying that premise onscreen.

nevertheless, because i think more movies should tell stories like this one, stories that reveal a harsh reality we often are insulated from, i’m going to award this event a 10/10.