The Breadwinner

A young girl navigating life in Afghanistan discovers a new freedom when she disguises herself as a boy in Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar‑nominated drama.

In Taliban‑controlled Afghanistan, women are forbidden to leave home without a male guardian. Eleven‑year‑old Parvana spends her days helping her father sell goods in the market, learning stories, language and resilience from him. But when local Taliban members arrest him for owning a forbidden book, her family is suddenly trapped inside their home with no way to work, buy food or survive.

Determined to support her mother and siblings, Parvana disguises herself as a boy. What begins as an act of necessity becomes a powerful transformation, granting her small but life‑changing freedoms — the ability to walk the streets, earn money and search for her father. Yet every step she takes comes with enormous personal risk.

Based on Deborah Ellis’ acclaimed novel, The Breadwinner marks a striking shift for Cartoon Saloon. While the studio’s earlier films draw on Celtic mythology, this story blends social realism with emotional depth, holding onto the studio’s signature focus on courage, imagination and transformation.

Best suited to older children and young people, the film avoids sugarcoating life under an oppressive regime. Instead, it invites audiences to empathise deeply with Parvana and reflect on fairness, equality and the freedoms many young viewers may take for granted.