The Breadwinner (2017)
The Breadwinner (2017), an animated drama from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and directed by Nora Twomey, is based on the best-selling novel by Deborah Ellis. It was jointly produced by Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and Luxembourg. The story follows Parvana, an 11-year-old girl living in Kabul during the rise of the Taliban and the start of the War on Terror. Her father, Nurullah, used to be a school teacher but became a hawker after losing his leg in the Soviet–Afghan War. One evening during dinner, he is wrongly arrested by Idrees – a young member of the Taliban who takes offense to something he believed Nurullah said earlier at the market while they were selling goods. As women are not allowed to leave their home without a male relative according to Taliban rule, Parvana’s family is left with no way to provide for themselves since her brother Sulayman passed away years ago. This leaves only Parvana, her mother Fattema, her sister Soraya, and their infant brother Zaki. When they attempt to go see Nurullah in prison, Fattema is beaten and threatened with arrest if she goes outside again.
After consoling Zaki with the tale of a brave boy battling the wicked Elephant King to retrieve precious seeds for his village, Parvana’s attempt to purchase food for her family is met with rejection by fearful hawkers under Taliban rule. Determined to provide for her loved ones, she adopts the persona of ‘Aatish’, Nurullah’s nephew, cutting her hair and dressing as a boy. This ruse enables her to successfully acquire both food and money. Acting upon Shauzia’s counsel, another girl masquerading as a boy, Parvana attempts to bribe a prison guard in hopes of visiting her father. However, her efforts are futile as he turns her away. Undeterred, she takes on physically demanding jobs alongside Shauzia to earn more money for a larger bribe. Simultaneously, Fattema is compelled to arrange a marriage for Soraya with a relative in Mazar in exchange for protection and shelter from their dire circumstances.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Saara ChaudryParvana  Soma ChhayaShauzia  Ali RizviNurullah  Noorin GulamgausIdrees / Sulayman  Kane MahonKiln Owner  Laara SadiqFattema  Shaista LatifSoraya  Kanza FerisSorceress  Kawa AdaRazaq  Ali KazmiDarya |
The Breadwinner (2017), an animated drama from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and directed by Nora Twomey, is based on the best-selling novel by Deborah Ellis. It was jointly produced by Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and Luxembourg. The story follows Parvana, an 11-year-old girl living in Kabul during the rise of the Taliban and the start of the War on Terror. Her father, Nurullah, used to be a school teacher but became a hawker after losing his leg in the Soviet–Afghan War. One evening during dinner, he is wrongly arrested by Idrees – a young member of the Taliban who takes offense to something he believed Nurullah said earlier at the market while they were selling goods. As women are not allowed to leave their home without a male relative according to Taliban rule, Parvana’s family is left with no way to provide for themselves since her brother Sulayman passed away years ago. This leaves only Parvana, her mother Fattema, her sister Soraya, and their infant brother Zaki. When they attempt to go see Nurullah in prison, Fattema is beaten and threatened with arrest if she goes outside again.
After consoling Zaki with the tale of a brave boy battling the wicked Elephant King to retrieve precious seeds for his village, Parvana’s attempt to purchase food for her family is met with rejection by fearful hawkers under Taliban rule. Determined to provide for her loved ones, she adopts the persona of ‘Aatish’, Nurullah’s nephew, cutting her hair and dressing as a boy. This ruse enables her to successfully acquire both food and money. Acting upon Shauzia’s counsel, another girl masquerading as a boy, Parvana attempts to bribe a prison guard in hopes of visiting her father. However, her efforts are futile as he turns her away. Undeterred, she takes on physically demanding jobs alongside Shauzia to earn more money for a larger bribe. Simultaneously, Fattema is compelled to arrange a marriage for Soraya with a relative in Mazar in exchange for protection and shelter from their dire circumstances.
