The Breadwinner Parent Guide

Life can be tough for anyone, but it is especially so for an eleven-year-old girl living under Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In many respects Parvana, (voice of Saara Chaudry,) is an ordinary kid. She argues with her bossy older sister (voice of Shaista Latif), dotes on her adorable baby brother, and thrives under the care of her loving mother and father (voices of Laara Sadiq and Ali Badshah). Yet it becomes apparent early in the film that Parvana’s childhood is under attack.

As a girl, she faces constant harassment from local Taliban thugs who, armed with guns and a brutal ideology, are steadily restricting the freedom of women in the country. The family’s sole protection and support is Parvana’s father, who quietly educates his children (even the girls) and brightens their lives with vivid storytelling. His defence of his daughters’ rights however, doesn’t go unnoticed. And Parvana’s life is upended when her father is suddenly arrested and thrown in prison.

Under strict Taliban law, the three women of the household can’t leave their home without a male guardian to accompany them—and the only remaining male member of the family is a toddler. As females, that means they can’t even draw water from the well by themselves, let alone buy food or earn a living. As supplies quickly dwindle, Parvana is forced to make a terrible choice. To avoid starvation, she disguises herself as a boy and becomes the breadwinner, taking odd jobs to provide for her mother and siblings.

There’s a lot at stake. Parvana’s world is saturated with daily violence. The landscape is scarred by war, and people live in fear of remaining landmines and explosives. Women, including her own mother, are beaten in the streets. Desperate families sell their daughters into child marriages, and everyone toils under the constant watch of the Taliban. Fortunately, Parvana’s school friend Shauzia, (voiced by Soma Chhaya,) is in a similar plight and helps Parvana adapt. Their simple friendship is a stark and moving contrast to the cruelty of the society in which they live.

By now it’s probably apparent that this film is not a typical “children’s” animation. It is based on a novel by Deborah Ellis, that was inspired by the true-life experiences of Afghan refugees. Because the movie stays loyal to the source material, the subject matter is heavy and there are no simple solutions to the problems Parvana contends with.

Still, author and filmmaker alike have worked hard to make these tough issues accessible and appropriate for middle school audiences. Violent events are portrayed off screen, and although they include sound effects and depictions of resulting injuries, they avoid being explicit. Other troubling content, like women and children being threatened, families being separated, and soldiers enforcing their will at gun point, are treated with the seriousness they deserve. The exquisite animation style and soundtrack create an immersive experience that respectfully and poignantly offers a glimpse into the tragic daily life of millions of people around the world.

And this is the true strength of production, which is both beautiful and heartrending. Parvana, her parents, and siblings may be fictional characters, but they are easily relatable—a family, like any other family. Their experiences of loss, displacement, intimidation and, more importantly, resilience, are shared by real people who are so overwhelming in numbers that television and newspapers often neglect their individual stories. As a tool for teaching empathy, especially to older children, The Breadwinner excels. And as warfare and political upheaval continue to devastate the lives of ordinary men, women and children, that empathy is needed more than ever. This extraordinary film is a fitting tribute to the people we often forget, and an invitation to understand, discuss, and work towards improving the situation of our fellow human beings.