The Breadwinner

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The Breadwinner

PG-13

2017

1h 34m

Drama

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to support her family. Working alongside a friend, she soon discovers a new world of freedom and danger. Drawing strength from the fantastical stories she invents, Parvana embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family.

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Critics Consensus

The Breadwinner's stunning visuals are matched by a story that dares to confront sobering real-life issues with uncommon -- and richly rewarding -- honesty.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Jun 2, 2018

4/5

A fantastical myth, woven through the propulsive main story, serves as a distraction to the characters in their most distressed moments. Story as lesson. Story as history. Also, story as entertainment. Story as escape.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

May 27, 2018

5/5

Along with the eerie beauty of the animation there is a salving streak of humour that softens this tale's sharper edges, reminding us that - for children - laughter and bravery walk hand in hand.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

May 25, 2018

4/5

This beautiful and continually surprising film makes us think about what children can and can't bear.

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Kate Saccone

Vague Visages

Dec 12, 2023

The Breadwinner is a beautifully-constructed yet grueling story of female bravery that feels both timeless and timely.

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Carla Monfort

Espinof

May 30, 2023

4/5

... An animation gem that exudes sensibility and strikes a difficult equilibrium: heart-wrenching without being a tearjerker, and emotional without becoming an artificial motivational speech. [Full review in Spanish]

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 31, 2021

3/4

Unlike the dismal box office hit The Boss Baby, here's a toon flick that fully deserved its Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

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Layne A

@poisontree Sep 28, 2025

One of the greatest animated movies oat

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Emerson H.

@RTreviews7282 Sep 18, 2025

A bit slow, but undoubtedly eye-opening. Definitely check this one out.

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Rehan T

@RT81460504 Jun 4, 2025

Movie was sad, great story. But, what they showed in the movie has nothing to do with Islam...

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C M

@RT99857157 Mar 6, 2025

An excellent movie. Like Schindler's List, there's beauty to the story, but it can be very hard to watch at times. The sparse style of the animation lends itself to the narrative, but might be part of why this movie is woefully uknown to many. This is movie adults should see, but would probably be disturbing to children.

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Jay W

@RT52162311 Dec 2, 2024

"The Breadwinner" follows a family of five in 2001 Afghanistan. It focuses on the hardships and trials that come with trying to survive in this hostile community. The movie is perpetually dark and depressing. Not shying away from the darker realities that go on in the world. Breadwinner gives a good dose of perspective for anyone complaining about mundane "first world problems". This movie reminds me a lot of the Don Bluth movies of the 1980's. It focuses a lot on the struggles of our protagonist, which makes their quest to overcome all the more triumphant. I love the family dynamic in the story. The sisters may bicker at times, but they also share some very sweet and tender scenes together. Breadwinner teaches that, even if you don't know what to do, do what you can, and be kind. There isn't much in the way of levity, so all the sadness can wear on an audience. Without getting into spoilers, I feel the ending was a little rushed. I'm usually all for an abrupt finale, but I could have used one more scene in this film. They will occasionally switch animation styles as the characters tell a story, and if there is any comedic relief that is where it comes in. It makes a point to say that there is a power in the stories we tell. And there certainly is power in this story.

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Laura C

@RT27222320 Sep 11, 2023

Un film toccante e ottimo per ricordare gli eventi orribili in Afganistan nel 2001 capolavoro da vedere assolutamente.

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Nora Twomey

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Synopsis

Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to support her family. Working alongside a friend, she soon discovers a new world of freedom and danger. Drawing strength from the fantastical stories she invents, Parvana embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family.

Director: Nora Twomey
Producer: Paul Young, Angelina Jolie, Andrew Rosen, Anthony Leo, Tomm Moore
Screenwriter: Anita Doron, Deborah Ellis
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Guru Animation Studio, Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon, Jolie Pas, Mélusine Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Violent Images)
Genre: Drama, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $302.9K
Runtime: 1h 34m

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