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The Breadwinner

  • 2017
  • PG-13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
30K
YOUR RATING
The Breadwinner (2017)
Parvana, a young girl living under the Taliban regime, cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family after her father is imprisoned.
Play trailer1:02
4 Videos
95 Photos
Coming-of-AgeTragedyAnimationDramaFamilyWar

In 2001, Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. When her father is captured, a determined young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.In 2001, Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. When her father is captured, a determined young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.In 2001, Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. When her father is captured, a determined young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.

  • Director
    • Nora Twomey
  • Writers
    • Anita Doron
    • Deborah Ellis
  • Stars
    • Saara Chaudry
    • Soma Chhaya
    • Noorin Gulamgaus
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nora Twomey
    • Writers
      • Anita Doron
      • Deborah Ellis
    • Stars
      • Saara Chaudry
      • Soma Chhaya
      • Noorin Gulamgaus
    • 124User reviews
    • 126Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 24 wins & 55 nominations total

    Videos4

    Teaser
    Trailer 1:02
    Teaser
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer
    The Breadwinner: We Need Food Now
    Clip 2:11
    The Breadwinner: We Need Food Now
    The Breadwinner: The Decision
    Clip 2:11
    The Breadwinner: The Decision

    Photos95

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    Saara Chaudry
    Saara Chaudry
    • Parvana
    • (voice)
    Soma Chhaya
    • Shauzia
    • (voice)
    • (as Soma Bhatia)
    Noorin Gulamgaus
    Noorin Gulamgaus
    • Idrees
    • (voice)
    • …
    Laara Sadiq
    Laara Sadiq
    • Fattema
    • (voice)
    • …
    Ali Badshah
    Ali Badshah
    • Nurullah
    • (voice)
    • …
    Shaista Latif
    • Soraya
    • (voice)
    Kanza Feris
    • Sorceress
    • (voice)
    • …
    Kawa Ada
    • Razaq
    • (voice)
    Kane Mahon
    • Optician
    • (voice)
    • …
    Ali Kazmi
    Ali Kazmi
    • Darya
    • (voice)
    • …
    Mran Volkhard
    • Megaphone
    • (voice)
    • …
    Ezra Sholeh
    • Stall Seller
    • (voice)
    • (as Reza Sholeh)
    • …
    Lily Erlinghauser
    • Zaki
    • (voice)
    Wamiq Furoghudin
    • Prison Gatekeeper
    • (voice)
    Millad Hamidkohzad
    • Other Talib Boy
    • (voice)
    • …
    Salaman Hamidkohzad
    • Male Shopper
    • (voice)
    • …
    Abu Hashim Dostyar
    • Teen Boy
    • (voice)
    • …
    Sapeda Hashim Dostyar
    • Child Market Seller
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Director
      • Nora Twomey
    • Writers
      • Anita Doron
      • Deborah Ellis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews124

    7.729.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8proud_luddite

    Very good, indeed

    In the Taliban-controlled city of Kabul, Afghanistan in the early 2000s, Parvana (voiced by Saara Chaudry) is a pre-teen girl who must disguise herself as a boy in order to earn money for her family. As females are forbidden to appear in public without an adult male, she must also shop for the family as well.

    "The Breadwinner" is an animated film co-produced by Canada, Ireland, and Luxembourg and is in the English language.

    The story (from the book by Deborah Ellis) can be highly praised for focusing on Parvana's struggles while also involving related subplots that add richly to the story without ever creating the feeling of overwhelm or confusion. The most fascinating is one that begins as Parvana (as a boy) is approached by an illiterate man who needs to have a letter read to him.

    This film pulls no punches in the injustice against females by Taliban zealots. One of the ways this is exposed is when Parvana walks outside for the first time dressed as a boy and the viewer can easily sense her great feeling of freedom.

    Two other strengths add to the greatness of this movie. One is unexpected humour. It truly works despite the grim situation overall and is neither facetious nor unbelievable. The other is the beautiful visuals in the animation. This is especially apparent in a parallel mythical story - one that matches the main narrative - which Parvana narrates to her baby brother.

    The finale is open-ended leaving the viewer wondering what will happen to Parvana and her family. It's a rather perfect ending as it gives us just the right amount of information for us to imagine in different ways what could happen next.

    Make no mistake: "The Breadwinner" is a winner in many ways. - dbamateurcritic
    8sildarmillion

    Loved it, and then didn't know how to feel

    This was a unique and very different kind of movie. It's not likely that an animated movie would be set in war-torn Afghanistan. But this one was. And it _felt_ very authentic. I'm no authority on whether it was authentic or not, but it's the attention to detail that lends to the feeling of authenticity. Details about life, the clothing, the accents, the marketplaces, the politics, the culture, etc., add to the richness of the movie.

    It's an animated movie. So of course you expect it to all end well at the end. But as you near the ending, you start to wonder how could it possibly end up all well. And then you get to the ending. And then, I don't know. Of course, I won't spoil it. But the ending was not a conventional ending. It wasn't a sad ending; it wasn't a happy ending. I guess it was an ambiguous ending. And even though it leaves me without a fully satisfying ending, the journey it took me on was fantastic!
    10TheLittleSongbird

    A winner in every sense

    Have been a lifelong fan of animation for as long as can be remembered, with Disney and Looney Tunes being my earliest exposures. Loved it from an early age, actually love and appreciate it even more now with broader knowledge and taste, encompassing many directors, animation styles and studios of many countries.

    'The Breadwinner' first came to my attention when it was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, losing out to Pixar's 'Coco' (another amazing film that is slightly preferred by me). Can totally understand the appeal and award attention with it being one of the most deserving nominees in generally one of recent years' better award seasons, 'The Breadwinner' is a stunning and truly accomplished film, so much more than entertainment. It is one of the year's most emotional and unique films and no other film has moved me as much as 'The Breadwinner' did in some time now.

    For one thing, 'The Breadwinner' looks stunning. Being rich in detail and atmospheric, as well as beautifully drawn. The ambient sound has much authenticity, which thrills and makes one feel they are there in the setting without being intrusive. The writing is genuine and sincere, like the rest of the film, with an unfussy and never dumbed down or preachy approach to facing harsh realities and adversity in a way that feels realistic.

    Loved the storytelling and really along with the emotion it is 'The Breadwinner's' biggest strengths. It is always captivating, has a lot of emotional impact, made me feel and has something that not many films this year had, soul.

    It tackles serious and heavy themes that one does not usually see in an animated film and deals with them gently and sincerely yet with full impact. It is intelligent and in some ways educational, and what could have easily been heavy-handed isn't (especially the political element). The characterisation has depth and interest, with a lead character that is instantly relatable due to her spirit, innocence and willpower. The voices also endear and the ending compels.

    In summary, simply fantastic and a must watch. 10/10 Bethany Cox
    8elicopperman

    A Depressing albeit Uplifting Tale of Survival

    The beauty about discovering independent animated films outside of America is that you discover gems that could never be made here. In the case of today's film, it comes from the Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, known for making The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. Although the film did go under the radar outside of getting an Oscar nom and premiering at TIFF in 2017, it's still regarded as a beloved feature amongst critics and film fans. What could have easily been done in live-action ends up working well in the other medium to really bring to life the turmoil in Afghanistan through pure artistry.

    The Breadwinner focuses on a little girl named Parvana who lives under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. After her father is arrested without charge, Parvana disguises herself as a boy to support her family, whilst working alongside a friend of hers named Shauzia. As a lead, Parvana helps drive the film forward so she can save her loved ones, and the stakes that come from living in such an oppressive country make us sympathize with her. That being said, there is a sense of optimism displayed through both her and Shauzia, as they cleverly trick the hierarchy who view them as boys. It's also neat how the filmmakers made Parvana feel relatable by displaying her home life that shows as many sibling rivalries and issues as the average family.

    It's neat how even though the film details many hardships, it also has several moments of sweetness and levity. The film sporadically showcases a story told by Parvana that ends up connecting to all the events happening to her, and it does it in a way where we want to know how it all ends. In terms of dark content, the film does not shy away from displaying the violence, evil from the order and even bits of war to heighten up Parvana's desperation and risk taking. However, there are still moments of soothing relaxation, especially whenever Parvana tells her story, allowing the viewers to digest the severely tense moments. While they can interrupt the main narrative's flow sometimes, it's still cool to see the contrast between the harsh reality and uplifting fantasy displayed in this film.

    Cartoon Saloon outdid themselves with their previous features in terms of animation, and this film is no exception. The overall Middle-eastern inspired designs of the film create a very stylish and angular hand-drawn feel that's become so rare to find nowadays. In addition, another notable contrast is how the film emulates reality in Parvana's state of being. In contrast, the stories she tells are presented in a more abstract and storybook illustrative aesthetic that gives one the impression they are viewing an ancient narrative. Where the real world is murky, grainy and filled with bright lights and grim shadows, the surreal worlds of the story display a very versatile amount of colors, designs and characters to utilize the much needed creativity from a storyteller.

    Although by no means a happy go lucky film, The Breadwinner succeeds very well in telling a narrative through the harsh realities of growing up in a dangerous country filled with oppression and prejudice. If you haven't seen this film yet, definitely check it out. It works as a story of feminism, it works as a blend of differing mediums shown throughout different states of reality, and it especially works as a biting tale on surviving in a country filled with tyrannical cruelty. This is the kind of underrated gem that demands a larger audience, so it can go on to become a cult classic and then a beloved film by more than just animation buffs. If Cartoon Saloon keeps pushing themselves to making more unique and great content like this, I think they're in for a wonderful future.
    8DogePelis2015

    The sad reality of Afghanistan

    Cartoon Saloon shows us a moving story in Afghanistan; the plot is good, the characters are charismatic, the animation is excellent and the soundtrack is very good; I highly recommend it.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The book that's being read in the real world and the fantasy world sequences in the film is the same. It's a volume of poetry by Rumi.
    • Goofs
      According to sources the film takes place in 2001. But the currency used in the film is Afghani which wasn't introduced until 2003.
    • Quotes

      Parvana: [Last Lines] Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that makes the flowers grow, not thunder.

    • Connections
      Featured in 75th Golden Globe Awards (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      The Crown Sleeps
      Performed by Felicity Williams and Elaha Soroor

      Original Song by Qais Essar

      Lyrics by Joshua Hill

      Arranged and Produced by Aaron Lightstone and Justin Gray

      Mixed and Remastered by Justin Gray

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Breadwinner?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 17, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • Canada
      • Luxembourg
      • United States
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Aircraft Pictures (Canada)
      • Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cô Bé Dũng Cảm
    • Production companies
      • Aircraft Pictures
      • Cartoon Saloon
      • Mélusine Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $313,215
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $17,395
      • Nov 19, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,790,214
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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