Recommended for Grades 7-12

Based on Deborah Ellis’s award-winning novel, The Breadwinner tells the story of a young girl named Parvana who is growing up in Taliban-controlled Kabul during the early aughts. In Parvana’s world, women and girls are not permitted to earn money or leave the house without an escort. When Parvana’s father is wrongfully imprisoned, she cuts off her hair and disguises herself as a boy in order to find ways of providing for her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom–as well as danger–and she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. Executive produced by Angelina Jolie, the newest feature from filmmaker and animator Nora Twomey (The Secret of Kells) is an inspiring and heart-wrenching tale of self-discovery and self-sacrifice.

Consider this animated narrative film if you are exploring humanitarian issues, global issues, or human rights.