61
Metascore
11 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Washington PostWashington PostThis film is a necessary reminder of what can happen when people preserve tradition for its own sake.
- 80Village VoiceMonica CastilloVillage VoiceMonica CastilloDifret is painful but profound, skirting the pitfalls of the inspirational biopic for something more grounded and remarkable. Its authenticity extends beyond its central characters, conveying a very real sense of what is at stake.
- 70Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranOne of Difret's strengths is the care it takes to present many of Ethiopia's traditions in a respectful way.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterBoyd van HoeijThe Hollywood ReporterBoyd van HoeijQuite powerful despite relying on familiar storytelling tropes.
- 60EmpireDavid ParkinsonEmpireDavid ParkinsonQuietly compelling, but lacks finesse in its characterisation and dogged denunciation of the Ethiopian justice system
- 60The GuardianLeslie FelperinThe GuardianLeslie FelperinIt’s tempting to give this more of a pass because the subject is so noble and so few African-made films make it over here, but it has to be admitted that the some of the acting is a bit ropey and the script is a little too on-the-nose at times.
- 60Time Out LondonTrevor JohnstonTime Out LondonTrevor JohnstonIt’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.
- 60The New York TimesNicolas RapoldThe New York TimesNicolas RapoldShot in sunny locales, Difret has an earnestness that hovers between plain-spoken and pedestrian, and there are scenes and sequences that just don’t come together as written and edited, no matter how admirable the film’s existence is.
- 50VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyThe 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.
- 50RogerEbert.comRogerEbert.comMehari’s presentation proves far too straightforward. There is little motivating the dramatic urgency aside from covering each development, despite the social issues that make the story itself so immediate.