Films centered on individuals triumphing over difficult circumstances often find an easy path to audience approval because of their inspirational nature. This holds particularly true for stories based in reality or those geared toward family viewing. However, these kinds of productions also carry the risk of leaning too heavily into those elements, a problem that’s very apparent here. The movie recounts the story of the Afghan Dreamers Robotics Team, a group of four dedicated and inventive high school girls (Amber Afzali, Nina Hosseinzadeh, Sara Malal Rowe, Mariam Saraj) who gained widespread recognition for their creative mechanical designs. They were motivated by Roya Mahboob (Nikohl Boosheri), an Afghan computer coder and their coach, whose goal was to introduce young women in her country to the possibilities offered by a relatively new technology. With help from her brother, Ali (Noorin Gulamgaus), Samir Sinha (Ali Fazal), a supportive tech entrepreneur, and other generous individuals, Mahboob created a team that successfully competed in several international robotics competitions. Reaching that goal wasn’t straightforward, considering the difficulties the Dreamers encountered when it came to securing funding, obtaining supplies for their projects, and dealing with opposition from Afghan men who generally didn't believe women should receive an education or participate in activities like this. Writer-director Bill Guttentag’s latest work hits all the expected marks for a film of its type, but frequently overstates its points, emphasizing ideas that are already clear without needing to be so forcefully presented. Furthermore, the way this movie was put together isn't particularly fresh; it adheres closely to a predictable structure and formula, offering little in the way of surprise even for those unfamiliar with the real events behind the story. The film does make worthwhile observations about dedication, perseverance, and ingenuity, as well as highlighting the importance of equal educational opportunities for women. It also includes some inventive camerawork, an interesting musical score, and strong performances from mostly new actors. And it’s clear that Mahboob's efforts to encourage women's academic and professional goals had a real impact, helping to change attitudes during the period between the initial fall of the Taliban regime and its later return. Unfortunately, as important as this story is, it deserved a more compelling film than what has been delivered in this disappointing presentation.

Source on TMDB