just watch it!

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Overall I really enjoyed this film,and the way that it is based on a real story that happened. This film is about a young fourteen year old girl named Hirut, who lives in a poor village with her family in Ethiopia. Hirut gets told by her parents that she will have to marry an older man, whom she does want to be with, and on her way home from school one day she gets kidnapped and abducted by this man. On her escape she grabs his gun, and runs for home, but encounters the man surrounded by other men. terrified and panicked she aims the gun and shoots the man. This becomes the plot of the film when a woman named Meaza comes to Hirut and her family saying that she will be representing Hirut in court, and defend her case saying that it was an act of defense, and that she is innocent. My favorite character in the film would be Meaza who was playing as Hirut's attorney in the film, because she never gave up on her case, and on Hirut. Meaza did things that was not required from her, like taking Hirut into the city, and letting her stay in her home for a few days, because she knew that with everyone who knew the man that got shot was against her,and wanted her killed, and she wanted to protect Hirut, and also care for her. Meaza wins her case, and Hirut does not get charged with murder of the man, as it was said to have been an act of defense. My favorite scene in the film was when Hirut decided to go with Meaza,and leave her family, but then decided to go back to her family, saying that her sister will need her, and that she will never be able to live without her. I thought this film was excellent,and would give it a 5/5 stars.

Set in 1996 near Addis Abeba, Ethiopia at the age of fourteen, Hirut gets abducted after school by a gang of horseman. She is taken away as is the custom to be married to her abductor. They beat and abuse her and she decides to escape, but in doing so she manages to kill the would be husband.The 'customs courts' dictates that a life for a life should be the case but from the start this is not an ordinary case but the law seems to be blind to the mitigating circumstances. Measza is a pro bono lawyer working for an organisation that helps the vulnerable of society and she decides to take on the case; this is their story.Now this is based on real events and was produced by Angelina Jolie. It is all very well acted, filmed, directed and has a pacing that means you will not get bored. The story as a resonance that comes with all stories of injustice and as such – some have found it to be 'unoriginal'. However, I found this to be compelling and rewarding. It is in Amharic and sub titled in English with a run time of 99 minutes. I saw this described as 'arthouse' but I would place this firmly under the genre of drama and think this will appeal to lovers of World cinema and those who like a story told plain with all ambiguity forgotten – recommended.

The story gave distorted and untruthful accounts about the lawyer. The film falsely portraying as if Meaza Ashenafi stood for Aberash; where in reality it is Mrs Etagegnehu Lemessa (who is now deceased) who battled for Aberash Bekele at the court in Arsi, Asella in 1999. Etagegnhu Lemessa, a professional lawyer,working for Ethiopian women lawyers association as a volunteer, arrives from the city to represent Aberash and argue that she acted in self-defense. The movie Difret changed the story as if Meaza Ashenafi fought as a lawyer. Searchfor original BBC documentary series following Aberash Bekele case trial. Based on a true story means that movie was based on actual events that happened not deceiving public with Fictitious entries.

I just caught a screening at the Jeonju International Film Festival in Korea, and I was very impressed. It was a riveting, well-edited and well-acted film about a primitive misogynistic mindset that is responsible for the abuse and deaths of women around the world. Based on a true story (probably one of the few with a relatively positive outcome) and filmed on location with an Ethiopian director and cast, Difret is educational and thought-provoking. I wish the director the best of luck bringing more material like this to the attention of the world. WELL DONE! And I recommend this film to anyone who has the opportunity to see it and support it!