In a world where voices are often silenced, the film ‘Bread and Roses’ resonates as a courageous testament to the strength of three Afghan women. Born of the urgency of a situation quickly deteriorating after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, this documentary, directed by Afghan native Sahra Mani, brings a harsh reality to the fore.
The project emerged from a collection of secret and shaky camera phone footage, capturing confrontations and the daily lives of Afghan women in a society suddenly stripped of basic human rights. The film’s inception was not planned, as Mani was in the midst of another project. However, the footage she received was a calling. It was a story that needed to be told.
‘Bread and Roses’ weaves a complex narrative, focusing on three charismatic women who defy the conservative norms of their families to become symbols of resistance. Its scenes transition between the women as they struggle for their lives, engage in heartfelt conversations with their families and display an unstoppable yearning for freedom coupled with an indestructible determination to change the fate of Afghan women.
‘It all just collapsed in a matter of days,’ as actress and coproducer of the film Jennifer Lawrence told Variety. ‘We felt helpless and frustrated with how to get these stories off the news cycle and into people’s psyches. To help galvanize people and make them care about the plight of these women.’
‘This film coneys a message from women in Afghanistan, a soft message: please be the voice of those who are voiceless under the Taliban dictatorship,’ said Mani at the premiere in Cannes.
Do you want to know what bravery looks like? Watch ‘Bread and Roses’. Listen to the stories of the women who have risked everything for the right to work, to appear in public without a male chaperone and to receive an education. Discover a film that is not just a reflection of a tragic reality but a call to action.
A HRFFB Talk on women's education in Afghanistan will take place on 16.10. More info here»
