Levante (2023)★ 6.8/10

Sofia embodies strength and hope on the volleyball court, yet off it she’s constantly hindered by societal expectations and religious dogma. Each decision she makes is an act of rebellion against a system designed to suppress her, and the film’s tension stems from this very struggle for autonomy.

This is a film with clear strengths and flaws. The first forty minutes are particularly well-paced. Yet the decision to shoehorn an unnecessary same-sex subplot into a story already layered with feminism, religion, and sports politics feels forced. The core narrative—an athlete risking everything to protect her future—would have been powerful enough on its own.