Executive producer Angelina Jolie and Academy Award-nominated film studio Cartoon Saloon, present their latest, highly anticipated feature, The Breadwinner.
The story follows the journey of an 11-year-old girl, Parvana (Saara Chaudry), whose family is living in extreme poverty in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
Following her father’s false arrest, Parvana disguises herself as a boy in an attempt to take on the role of breadwinner – hence the title of the film.
From the get-go we’re exposed to Taliban thugs with guns and violent threats, which is perplexing to the senses, given our strong association of animation with kid’s flicks.
Some may consider the subject of political rebellion too harsh and inappropriate for a children’s film, but personally, there’s something invigorating about the way this trailer hits you with mixed feelings about its demographic.
If anything, it creates an opportunity to push the conventions of mainstream storytelling towards something global and culturally dynamic.
Despite its intense and somewhat controversial themes, it’s well worth noting that we’re not exactly treading on uncharted territory – even for a kid’s movie.
The 1998 Disney classic, Mulan, tells the story of a young Chinese girl who also disguises herself as a boy, and takes her father’s place in the army to protect him from the perils of war.
Let me just put it out there: if The Breadwinner is going to be anything like Mulan, it’s going to be an incredible film.
Having a huge passion for traditional animation, I also can’t help but mention my enthusiasm for an animated film that doesn’t rely heavily on 3D and CGI technology to tell its story.
Instead, we’re invited into this handcrafted world with vivid imagery and soulful Arabian music that sets the tone for its exotic context.
Though it remains to be seen until its 17 November 2017 release date; if you enjoy films with real-life issues and high stakes wrapped in warm feelings of courage and inspiration, I think The Breadwinner may be right up your alley.
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