The Breadwinner

Eleven-year-old Parvana is growing up in Kabul, ruled with an iron fist by the Taliban. When her father is sent to prison, Parvana disguises herself as a boy and takes on the role of the family’s sole provider. Will she be able to bear this burden and save her loved ones?

Every day, Parvana accompanies her father to the market, where they run a small stall. Her father tells her all sorts of stories and often says that it is these stories that stay in our hearts even when all else is lost. And indeed, when her father is wrongfully arrested, it is Parvana’s stories that help the family hold on to hope. Since strict laws forbid women from leaving their homes without a male guardian, Parvana, disguised as a boy, will not only have to provide for her family but also undertake a risky attempt to free her father.

The Breadwinner is an Oscar-nominated adaptation of the bestselling novel by Deborah Ellis. This gripping tale reveals the power of storytelling and the strength of family bonds in the face of a brutal regime.

Presented alongside the film Éiru.

Did you know that…

… Deborah Ellis, the author of the source novel, spent several months in refugee camps in Pakistan, where she spoke to people who had fled the Taliban regime. It was there that she heard stories of girls dressing up as boys to help support their families.