The Breadwinner
Olivia D’Souza
The Breadwinner
Nora Twomey
November 17, 2017
Animated Film
Afghanistan
The Breadwinner portrays a young girl who must pretend to be a boy in order to go out into the market and public spaces. Unfortunately, the stigma against women in public is commonplace in Middle-Eastern countries as well as being part of the history in Asian countries. Boys are seen as the breadwinners and the heads of the families whereas girls are ignored, abandoned, and even killed in Asia and the Middle-East. The Breadwinner also demonstrates the effect of war on communities. Parvana’s brother was killed by picking up what he thought was a “toy” but it was actually a grenade. Razaq’s wife was also killed when her bus hit a landmine. Civilian casualties in war-torn countries are the consequences of war. Similarly, Laos and Cambodia, neighboring countries to Vietnam, were heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, yet even today civilians die due to accidental exposure to remaining mines, grenades, and bombs dropped all over the countries. War has lasting effects on a country’s culture due to it’s long-term consequences and trauma that plagues citizens during and after war.
The central message depicted in The Breadwinner, is that kindness during difficult times can bring hope and motivation to those in trouble. This theme is evoked in the movie in various ways. The first is that the kindness shown to Parvana by Deliwar/Shauzia and Razaq helped her to receive food and money from the market and later, save her father from the prison. The second way this message is shown through the story that Parvana is telling throughout the film. The boy, Sulayman, is kind to those he meets on his journey and in return receives the items he needs to succeed. This message can also be related to many refugee cultures. Those who are fleeing war-torn countries must often rely on the kindness of others to move through each step of their journey, from finding shelter to finding means of transportations.
The Breadwinner indicates important aspects of Afghan culture. The family structure is quite similar to the common structure seen around the world of a mother, father, and 2-3 children. However, it is common for families to have suffered loss of an immediate family member, father and sons through war and children to tragic accidents, often a consequence of war. Parvana lost her brother after he picked up a grenade, thinking it was a toy. Gender roles in middle-eastern countries are very strict. The male members of the family are the ones to make money and provide food and shelter for the family, often by hard labor or as merchants in the market. Women and girls are forced to stay at home, cooking and caring for the home. Under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women and girls are also not allowed out of the home unaccompanied by a brother, father, or husband. This is portrayed in the film, when Parvana’s mother is beaten for being outside and Parvana has to disguise herself as a boy to make money and buy food. The education system is also very poor in Afghanistan. While some boys are permitted to go to school, those who do are affluent or have family members in government positions. On the other hand, under the rule of the Taliban women, girls are not allowed to attend school nor should they be able to read or write. Storytelling is also a large part of Afghan culture (as it is in many other parts of the world). Storytelling is used by Parvana”s father to teach her the history of Afghanistan and the surrounding area, however it is also used by Parvana to sooth and entertain her family, and herself in dangerous situations.
The mood evoked by this film is one of fear and appreciation. The directors and writers elicited fear through the sometimes darker animation as well as various smaller characters that created dangerous positions for Parvana and her friends and family. For example, the return of the same boy who took her father back to where Parvana was working brought a sense of fear for her and her friend’s wellbeing. However, the movie helps to create an appreciation for Afghan culture through the use of music and incorporation of Afghan patterns in the animation used during Parvana’s stories as well as the historical stories told by her father.
The Taliban came into control in Afghanistan in 1994. Many thought they would bring peace, but instead established an authoritarian regime. At this time, women and girls are forced to cover themselves and girls are banned from schools. In 1996, Kabul (Parvana’s home and the capital of Afghanistan) was captured by the Taliban. Later in 2001, Afghanistan is invaded by a US-led military coalition and the Taliban fall within a week. The Breadwinner is set in 2001 and we can note the war that is beginning at the end of the movie with the US jets flying overhead for multiple days. Although the war did push the Taliban out of complete control of Afghanistan, it did have severe consequences on many civilians as noted by the devastation in the city and in the prison in the movies. Unfortunately, the Taliban and ISIS control land and are still threats in Afghanistan today. While girls are once again allowed to attend school, the Taliban and its supporters carry out attacks on schools, acid attacks against girls, and strongly oppose female education. This has created a fear within the communities and many families continue to be scared to send their daughters to school.
Watching The Breadwinner changed my worldview immensely by showcasing the reality of girls in Afghanistan during a period of war and conflict (which has continued to today). While I knew a little bit of the conflict in Afghanistan, after watching this film, I immediately went to research a little bit more. I am truly more appreciative of the many rights and privileges that I have here in the US, that many girls are forced to go without in war-torn countries. I am in awe of the many women, who are fighting everyday to provide for their families and to survive conflict. I hope to be more aware of conflicts around the country and recognize the effects that political actions from the US have around the world.
The Breadwinner
Nora Twomey
November 17, 2017
Animated Film
Afghanistan
The Breadwinner portrays a young girl who must pretend to be a boy in order to go out into the market and public spaces. Unfortunately, the stigma against women in public is commonplace in Middle-Eastern countries as well as being part of the history in Asian countries. Boys are seen as the breadwinners and the heads of the families whereas girls are ignored, abandoned, and even killed in Asia and the Middle-East. The Breadwinner also demonstrates the effect of war on communities. Parvana’s brother was killed by picking up what he thought was a “toy” but it was actually a grenade. Razaq’s wife was also killed when her bus hit a landmine. Civilian casualties in war-torn countries are the consequences of war. Similarly, Laos and Cambodia, neighboring countries to Vietnam, were heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, yet even today civilians die due to accidental exposure to remaining mines, grenades, and bombs dropped all over the countries. War has lasting effects on a country’s culture due to it’s long-term consequences and trauma that plagues citizens during and after war.
The central message depicted in The Breadwinner, is that kindness during difficult times can bring hope and motivation to those in trouble. This theme is evoked in the movie in various ways. The first is that the kindness shown to Parvana by Deliwar/Shauzia and Razaq helped her to receive food and money from the market and later, save her father from the prison. The second way this message is shown through the story that Parvana is telling throughout the film. The boy, Sulayman, is kind to those he meets on his journey and in return receives the items he needs to succeed. This message can also be related to many refugee cultures. Those who are fleeing war-torn countries must often rely on the kindness of others to move through each step of their journey, from finding shelter to finding means of transportations.
The Breadwinner indicates important aspects of Afghan culture. The family structure is quite similar to the common structure seen around the world of a mother, father, and 2-3 children. However, it is common for families to have suffered loss of an immediate family member, father and sons through war and children to tragic accidents, often a consequence of war. Parvana lost her brother after he picked up a grenade, thinking it was a toy. Gender roles in middle-eastern countries are very strict. The male members of the family are the ones to make money and provide food and shelter for the family, often by hard labor or as merchants in the market. Women and girls are forced to stay at home, cooking and caring for the home. Under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women and girls are also not allowed out of the home unaccompanied by a brother, father, or husband. This is portrayed in the film, when Parvana’s mother is beaten for being outside and Parvana has to disguise herself as a boy to make money and buy food. The education system is also very poor in Afghanistan. While some boys are permitted to go to school, those who do are affluent or have family members in government positions. On the other hand, under the rule of the Taliban women, girls are not allowed to attend school nor should they be able to read or write. Storytelling is also a large part of Afghan culture (as it is in many other parts of the world). Storytelling is used by Parvana”s father to teach her the history of Afghanistan and the surrounding area, however it is also used by Parvana to sooth and entertain her family, and herself in dangerous situations.
The mood evoked by this film is one of fear and appreciation. The directors and writers elicited fear through the sometimes darker animation as well as various smaller characters that created dangerous positions for Parvana and her friends and family. For example, the return of the same boy who took her father back to where Parvana was working brought a sense of fear for her and her friend’s wellbeing. However, the movie helps to create an appreciation for Afghan culture through the use of music and incorporation of Afghan patterns in the animation used during Parvana’s stories as well as the historical stories told by her father.
The Taliban came into control in Afghanistan in 1994. Many thought they would bring peace, but instead established an authoritarian regime. At this time, women and girls are forced to cover themselves and girls are banned from schools. In 1996, Kabul (Parvana’s home and the capital of Afghanistan) was captured by the Taliban. Later in 2001, Afghanistan is invaded by a US-led military coalition and the Taliban fall within a week. The Breadwinner is set in 2001 and we can note the war that is beginning at the end of the movie with the US jets flying overhead for multiple days. Although the war did push the Taliban out of complete control of Afghanistan, it did have severe consequences on many civilians as noted by the devastation in the city and in the prison in the movies. Unfortunately, the Taliban and ISIS control land and are still threats in Afghanistan today. While girls are once again allowed to attend school, the Taliban and its supporters carry out attacks on schools, acid attacks against girls, and strongly oppose female education. This has created a fear within the communities and many families continue to be scared to send their daughters to school.
Watching The Breadwinner changed my worldview immensely by showcasing the reality of girls in Afghanistan during a period of war and conflict (which has continued to today). While I knew a little bit of the conflict in Afghanistan, after watching this film, I immediately went to research a little bit more. I am truly more appreciative of the many rights and privileges that I have here in the US, that many girls are forced to go without in war-torn countries. I am in awe of the many women, who are fighting everyday to provide for their families and to survive conflict. I hope to be more aware of conflicts around the country and recognize the effects that political actions from the US have around the world.