Lecture Notes: The Breadwinner Movie Analysis

Overview

• Movie Title: The Breadwinner
• Release: 2001
• Setting: Kabul, Afghanistan under Taliban rule
• Main Character: Parvana, 11-year-old girl
• Family:
  • Father: Nurullah, former teacher, lost leg in Soviet-Afghan war
  • Mother: Fatima
  • Siblings: Elder sister Soraya and infant brother Zaki

Plot Summary

• Nurullah's Arrest:

  • Arrested unjustly by the Taliban, accused of insult by Adris
  • Family left without male support due to Taliban restrictions

• Parvana's Transformation:

  • Cuts hair, dresses as a boy to support family
  • Assumes identity as "Aatish," Nurullah’s nephew
  • Gains ability to buy food and earn money

• Friendship and Support:

  • Shazia, another girl disguised as a boy (Delawir)
  • Parvana and Shazia take on hard labor jobs
  • Meet Razak, illiterate ex-patrol partner, who befriends Parvana

• Confrontation and Escape:

  • Adris recognizes Parvana, attempts violence
  • Wartime chaos leads to Adris’ departure
  • Parvana and Razak attempt to free Nurullah from prison

• Resolution:

  • Family’s escape plan from Afghanistan

Production Details

• Director: Nora Twomey
• Executive Producer: Angelina Jolie
• Production Companies: Aircraft Pictures (Canada), Melusine Productions (Luxembourg), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)
• Animation Studio: Cartoon Saloon located in Kilkenny, Ireland
• Key Themes: Serious subject matter, aimed at young adults and adults, not just a children’s film

Critical Reception

• Box Office:

  • Opening Weekend (North America): $17,395
  • Total Gross: $3.27 million worldwide

• Critical Reviews:

  • Rotten Tomatoes: 95% approval rating
  • Metacritic: Score of 78/100
  • Praise for visuals and storytelling

Themes and Influences

• Cultural Representation:

  • Voice actors of Afghan heritage
  • Input from Afghan dialect coach Kawa Abu

• Story within a Story:

  • Inspired by Guillermo del Toro’s Pan's Labyrinth
  • Use of mythical elephant king story

• Director’s Vision:

  • Animation as a medium for broad audience
  • Importance of authenticity and empathy

Additional Information

• Soundtrack: Composed by Michael and Jeff Danna, blends Eastern cultural elements
• Casting: Sara Choudhry as Parvana, praised for emotional depth

Quotes

• Nora Twomey: "Animation is very broad... [not just] a babysitting device."
• Critical Consensus: "Confronts sobering real-life issues with uncommon honesty."

Conclusion

• The Breadwinner stands out for its strong feminist spirit, engaging narrative, and its powerful depiction of courage under oppressive regimes.