The Breadwinner

This animation film, drawn in the classical style, travels to faraway, war-ridden Afghanistan and tells the story of a determined young girl, eleven-year-old Parvana. She and her sisters grow up in Kabul under the control of the Taliban. Her father is a teacher and contends with the bleakness of everyday life brought on by the Taliban regime by telling fantastical stories. When he is arrested one day, the family’s life changes dramatically, because women are not allowed to leave the house without a male relative. As her mother gradually runs out of food, and her daughters are not permitted to shop at the market, Parvana decides to disguise herself as a boy. Without further ado, she cuts off her long hair to be able to provide for her family and free her father from prison. The young girl now discovers the world of freedom for the first time and uses it to search for her father, deriving courage and determination from his stories. Nevertheless, the strong-willed Parvana runs into great danger.
“The Breadwinner” is an extraordinary and timely story about the power of family, friendship and fantasy. The story is based on the best-selling novel by Deborah Ellis, realised by Irish director Nora Twomey, cofounder of the celebrated Cartoon Saloon animation studio (“Song of the Sea”, “Secrets of Kells”), and produced by Mimi Polk Gitlin and Angelina Jolie. A team of more than two hundred animators, actors and artists has innovatively combined analogue and digital techniques in a 2D animation film. This unique fusion of painting, papercut and digital creates an unforgettable visual experience. (sh)