Bill Guttentag compares his new Angel Studios film to the powerful true story of Afghan girls fighting for education
Rule Breakers
The sports film
Miracle
The book documents the unlikely run to gold by the 1980 U.S. Hockey team.
Both movies celebrate the strength of perseverance, and show unlikely real-life characters overcoming enormous challenges. Both movies are about perseverance and show unlikely real-life heroes overcoming enormous challenges.

Movies
He says that he wants to leave his audiences inspired.

Guttentag tells Crosswalk Headlines”In some ways, we’re like a sports movie,” .

Rule Breakers
The incredible true story of Roya Mahaboob and the Afghan Dreamers is told in PG.

, a groundbreaking robotics team made up of all girls that
In the late 2010s to early 2020s, Afghans defied social norms by pursuing education and participating in competitions.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have reinforced long-standing traditions that dictate girls should stop formal education after sixth grade. Mahboob’s friends faced opposition at almost every turn.

Guttentag first heard about the Afghan Dreamers through Jason Brown, an author and friend who wrote the script.

“He had written some articles about the central character in the film, Roya Mahboob, and he called me up and said, ‘I think I have an idea that would make a good movie.'”

Guttentag was initially sceptical.

“If you are in the business that I am, you hear this line quite a bit. It’s often not true.”

He now says that in this case it “was extremely true.”

“It is a story about triumphing over adversity.

“
Guttentag said.

It’s

Also a story
He says that equal rights are his concern
.
Guttentag told a story of the daughter an Angel Studios executive, who watched the movie and was shocked. She realized for the first time just how lucky girls in the West were to have access to education without restrictions.

“The most powerful stories of all are true stories”

“
Guttentag tells Crosswalk Headlines.

“I’d love to think that my filmmaking can have a positive impact on society.”

“
He said. “But I also don’t wantmake films that lack
Better
term, like ‘eat your spinach movies.
‘
There’s
A lot of
There are films that lecture, and I do not want to make a film to lecture. I want to make a film that will inspire you.
We’re
A film that spends much time
Talking about
STEM education for girls
Is something
I truly believe
—
I think
Most people believe in.
But we want to celebrate this and not give a lecture that makes you roll your eyes.

Rule Breakers
He said, “He celebrates” “quiet heroism.”

”

We watch films and sometimes we see characters we wish we were or had characteristics of the person.
“
He said. “And I think this film features women of incredible courage who, in the end, succeed. And I hope that’s a powerful message.”

Michael Foust (19459101) has been covering the intersection of news and faith for 20 years. His stories have been published in Baptist Press Christianity Today The Christian Post The Leaf-Chronicle The Toronto Star The Knoxville News-Sentinel and The Leaf-Chronicle. Listen to Michael’s podcast! He is the host ofCrosswalk Talk,where he speaks with Christian movie stars and musicians. Discover the best Christian books, movies, television shows, and other entertainment. You can listen toCrosswalk Talk onLifeAudio.com,or subscribe viaApple, orSpotify. Originally published on March 06, 2025.