The Breadwinner ***** (2017, voices of Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Noorin Gulamgaus) – Movie Review

The Breadwinner (2017) is a beautifully drawn, unusually involving, eye-opener animation from Nora Twomey, co-director of The Secret of Kells (2009) and head of story for Song of the Sea (2014). It is story based. It knows it has an important story to tell, and it puts its story first, then characters and situations next, then lets the themes, morals and conclusions follow. Though set a while ago, it feels of today and scarily relevant. Its simple animated style is brilliantly effective.

It is a remarkable achievement, as an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, the only film nominated for best animated feature at the 2018 Oscars not produced in the United States. An inspiring, urgently vital tale of a girl’s courage on the streets of Kabul, it is impossible to imagine it being better done. Not many animations pull in abduction, wrongful imprisonment, the Taliban, arranged marriage, gender disguise and downtrodden women, but this one does, effortlessly and gracefully.

The screenplay is by Anita Doron, from a screen story by Deborah Ellis, based on the bestselling novel by Deborah Ellis. I expect that the book was a young adult novel but the film is very grown up and one that adults ought to watch. It is worth a detour to catch it.

Saara Chaudry voices determined young girl Parvana, who cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to try to provide for her family after her father is captured when Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban in 2001. She is lucky to find friend in Shauzia (voice of Soma Chhaya [Soma Bhatia]), another girl who has had the same idea, as well as a couple of other people who provide her with hope, money and kindness.

It tells an exceptionally good story, and really well, packing in levels of tension, humour, horror and heartbreak that animations can rarely achieve.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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