The Breadwinner

11-year old Parvana lives in Kabul, Afghanistan. Life isn’t always easy when there is little food to go around, but the family gets by by selling small items at the market square. Parvana’s father, a retired teacher, likes to tell Parvana about Afghanistan’s past, and hopes to teach her to think for herself. This doesn’t sit very well with the strict Taliban regime, and one day, Parvana’s father is arbitrarily arrested and thrown into jail.

The family finds itself suddenly unable to buy food, as it is forbidden, under Taliban rule, for women to walk the streets unattended by a male guardian. Young Parvana sees herself forced to cut her long hair, put on a boys’ clothes, and go out to the market place to attend to her family’s needs. Outside the house, she discovers a wonderful world of freedom and opportunities previously denied to her a girl. She can go freely about the town and speak to anyone she likes. But living a covert existence as a girl in a strict and violent regime is also very dangerous. In order to face her demons, both real and imaginary, Parvana resorts to creating her own stories, weaving real life and fairy tales together. In real life however, a new war is about to break out, and Parvana must get to her father at all costs before is it too late.

Cartoon Saloon, the animation studio that brought us the wonderful tales Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells, are back with a harrowingly real tale of a young girl’s hope and courage in a war-torn country. With a strong message against the oppression of women, and a subtle balance of adventure, humour and drama, The Breadwinner can be likened to a younger sibling of Marjane Satrapis Iranian Persepolis. It is also an impassioned appeal for the importance of culture, history and storytelling in the face of barbarism.

This film includes some dark scenes which may make younger children feel uncomfortable, and we therefore recommend it to curious children from the age of 10.

Nora Twomey (b. 1971) is a producer and director born in Ireland. She has previously directed several shorts and the animated feature film The Secret of Kells (2009). The Breadwinner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.