Oscars 2015: "Difret"

“Difret” means courage in the Amharic language and the movie is literally about it. It’s the story of Hirut Assefa (played with quiet intensity and surprising maturity by Tizita Hagere), a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted and raped by an older man as part of their village’s mating tradition. It’s also the story of Meaza Ashenafi (played with dogged determination and fierceness by the very beautiful Meron Getnet), a women’s rights lawyer who takes up the cause of Hirut. Together, they were able to bring an end to the abhorrent age-old tradition of men abducting women and forcing them into marriage.

This fact-inspired drama by USC-educated filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari will keep you engaged from the opening scene establishing Meaza’s character as a tough, independent and free woman in Addis Ababa to the final, triumphant scene of Hirut walking into the unknown armed with newfound freedom and independence every woman is entitled with. The final scene, whether it happened in real life or not, is the summation of Mehari’s treatise: That no one has control over one’s life except the person who is living it.

The performances by the two leads are extraordinary. I have no idea if they are seasoned actors prior to their work here but they inhabit their characters with such ease and naturalness that you can’t help but be moved by the bravery of their characters and be nudged to reflect on our own personal crusades to correct the wrong around us.

If one is to live a full and complete life, one has to have courage to take a personal crusade in life. It was not easy for Meaza and Hirut, but they were able to do it. The movie may have sometimes made it look easy for them (for narrative expediency, I assume) but we know in our hearts that it must have taken them more than a barrage of bullets to bring about this massive cultural change in Ethiopia. The film indirectly challenges us to take up our own little crusades in life – it doesn’t have to be as great as what Hirut and Meaza achieved, a small act of kindness or generosity would likely do it but we must able to follow through and continue to attempt to help those who needs help most.

Mehari’s filmmaking is raw but powerful. The abduction was staged without much fanfare. It came out of nowhere and it took the audience by surprise, thrusting us to  this horrid situation and allowing us to feel what’s it like to suddenly lose your freedom, be abused and threatened to a life of suffering and virtual enslavement – and what is shocking to learn is that this was part of an elaborate custom that’s been accepted by everyone in parts of Ethiopia for generations.

This film is a must see!

Rating: 4 ½ Stars