An afternoon hanging with besties: Yesmin, Nati and Bella sing along to REM’s »Losing My Religion« and pose in front of the camera in sexy Tik Tok fashion – shrouded in hijabs belonging to Yesmin’s devout mother. The video goes viral and sparks heated debates not only in the social media universe. Is this a deliberate provocation or a religious insult? Everyone has an opinion. The video brings the three girls instant fame and Yesmin’s father proves to be a resourceful agent who arranges for the young women to perform at Kurdish family parties. Nati and Bella revel in their new social media status as religious starlets. But for Yesmin, reactions to their video have a more negative impact. When is religion a private matter, and is the headscarf really important for her? Not only does the three girls’ friendship start to falter, but trouble is also brewing in Yesmin’s family.

Sonne offers a glimpse into a Muslim community and challenges stereotypes in a playful way. Emancipation and integration are discussed almost casually and gender roles turned completely upside down. The young female protagonists are torn between social media celebrity and self-discovery. Director Kurdwin Ayub’s wild and energetic Generation Z portrayal is a smart reckoning with social media culture and a pacy, powerful plea for women’s self-determination.