On Her Shoulders (2018)
89%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 13 wins & 17 nominations
On Her Shoulders traces one woman’s incredible journey to offer an inside look at modern political advocacy – and a challenge to viewers yearning to effect their own change.
On Her Shoulders” is a documentary that will make you cry, but in a good way. Director Alexandria Bombach captures the remarkable story of human rights activist Nadia Murad, who won the Nobel Peace Prize. The film shows the struggles and loneliness that Nadia faces, but also her strength and resilience. While some critics found the film lacking, I found it to be a powerful and emotional portrait of a truly inspiring woman. It’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to be inspired to make a difference in the world.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 34m
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Language(s):English, Arabic
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 7, 2018
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Nadia Murad, Yazidi, genocide, ISIS, sexual slavery, survivor, advocacy, fame, political, human rights, activism, Nobel Peace Prize, Alexandria Bombach, Brock Williams, Hayley Pappas, Adam Bardach, Dolby Digital, Scope, 2.35:1, Oscilloscope Laboratories, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Ed Potton, Ian Freer, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, Matthew Monagle, Richard Propes, Lisa Trifone, Pat Mullen, Phil Guie, Kathy Fennessy, directed by Alexandria Bombach, produced by Brock Williams, Hayley Pappas, executive produced by Adam Bardach, starring Nadia Murad, Amal Clooney
Worldwide gross: $40,145
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,242
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,084
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,152
US/Canada gross: $28,288
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,289
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,777
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,374
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,147
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,798
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Amal Clooney – Self
Alexandria Bombach – Director
Brock Williams – Producer
Hayley Pappas – Producer
Adam Bardach – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Alexandria Bombach
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Brock Williams, Hayley Pappas
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (2)
Director Alexandria Bombach (Frame by Frame) shot this documentary portrait of human rights activist Nadia Murad not long before her subject received the Nobel Peace Prize, and the movie argues persuasively that the prize was well deserved.
March 11, 2020
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Be ready for tears, on screen and your own.
January 25, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
On Her Shoulders is a compassionate, level-headed portrait of a remarkable woman. What it lacks in filmmaking fireworks, it makes up for in the sheer magnetism and moxie of its hero.
January 24, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Nadia is shown always surrounded by crowds, almost crushed by them. But her utter loneliness is heartbreaking.
January 24, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
On Her Shoulders is close to being awful.
January 23, 2019 | Rating: 1/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It would almost be absurd if it weren’t so deadly serious.
November 1, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Monagle
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
At its most emotionally impactful when Bombach simply plays observer to everything that’s unfolding.
September 18, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Bombach’s film, and Nadia’s willingness to participate in it, reminds us that what happens a world away is happening to us, to all of us as humankind.
May 29, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Lisa Trifone
Third Coast Review
lexandria Bombach won a directing prize at Sundance for this portrait of Murad, but On Her Shoulders might just as well have been made by Murad’s publicist.
May 24, 2019
Pat Mullen
POV Magazine
The film takes an intimate approach to its subject, who occasionally speaks directly to the camera. These moments can be revelatory.
March 25, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Phil Guie
Film-Forward.com
s a filmmaker, [Alexandria] Bombach (Frame by Frame) treats her with respect, but stops short of full-fledged worship.
March 2, 2019
Kathy Fennessy
Seattle Film Blog
A good documentary about Nadia Murad.
February 26, 2019 | Rating: B
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net…
Plot
On Her Shoulders follows the journey of Nadia Murad, a survivor of genocide and sexual slavery under ISIS, as she becomes an advocate for her people and a voice for change.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nadia Murad, the subject of the documentary, is a 23-year-old Yazidi genocide and ISIS sexual slavery survivor who becomes the voice of her people and their best hope to spur the world to action.
Alexandria-Bombach.jpg
