Honestly, it is rare to find a film that feels more urgent today than it did when it first dropped. The Breadwinner, directed by Nora Twomey and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, isn't just "another" animated movie. It is a gut punch. Released in 2017 by the powerhouse studio Cartoon Saloon—the same folks behind Wolfwalkers and Song of the Sea—it tells the story of Parvana, a 11-year-old girl living under Taliban rule in Kabul. When her father is unjustly arrested, she has to cut her hair and pretend to be a boy just so her family can eat.
The cast of The Breadwinner is a mix of seasoned talent and incredible newcomers who managed to breathe life into a story that feels almost too heavy for animation, yet somehow perfect for it. You’ve probably seen the headlines about the situation in Afghanistan lately. It makes watching this movie now feel like looking through a window into a recurring nightmare.
The Voice Behind Parvana: Saara Chaudry
At the heart of everything is Saara Chaudry. She voices Parvana. When she recorded this, she was actually around the same age as the character, which adds a layer of authenticity you just can't fake with an adult doing a "kid voice." Chaudry brings this weary resilience to the role. You can hear the fear in her breath when she encounters the morality police, but there’s this steeliness underneath.
Since The Breadwinner, Chaudry hasn't slowed down. You might recognize her from The Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney+ or her work in Holly Hobbie. She’s become a vocal advocate for girls' education, clearly carrying the weight of Parvana’s story into her real life. It wasn't just a gig for her; it was a mission.
The chemistry between her and the rest of the cast of The Breadwinner feels grounded. It doesn't feel like a cartoon. It feels like a family trying to survive a drought of hope.
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The Supporting Players Who Ground the Story
Let’s talk about the rest of the family. Soma Chhaya voices Shauzia, Parvana’s friend who is also masquerading as a boy (Deliwar). Shauzia is the cynical counterpart to Parvana’s idealism. She wants out. She wants to see the sea. Chhaya plays that desperation beautifully. It’s a reminder that under extremist regimes, childhood isn't just lost—it's traded for survival.
Then there’s Laara Sadiq as Fattema, the mother. Sadiq captures that specific kind of maternal terror where you have to be brave for your kids while you are literally falling apart inside. And we can't forget Ali Badshah as Nurullah, the father. His voice is the moral compass of the film. He’s a former teacher who lost a leg in a previous war, and his quiet dignity sets the stage for Parvana’s journey.
Badshah’s performance is subtle. He doesn't yell. He tells stories.
Why the Casting Choices Mattered
Director Nora Twomey was incredibly intentional. They didn't just go for big Hollywood names to slap on a poster. They looked for actors who had a connection to the culture or a deep understanding of the region's history. This is why the film avoids the "tourist" feel that some Western-produced stories about the Middle East or Central Asia often have.
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Kawa Ada, who voices Razaq—a character who starts as a threat and becomes a surprising ally—is a great example. Ada is an Afghan-Canadian playwright and actor. He brought a level of nuance to a character who could have easily been a one-dimensional "scary soldier." Instead, Razaq becomes a symbol of the shared humanity that still exists even in the darkest corners of a regime.
Visual Storytelling Meets Performance
The animation style changes when Parvana tells stories to her younger brother. It becomes this vibrant, paper-cutout aesthetic. It’s a stark contrast to the dusty, muted ochre of "real" Kabul. This is where the voice acting really shines. The cast of The Breadwinner has to pull double duty, voicing the mythological characters in Parvana’s tales.
This meta-storytelling is where the film's title, The Breadwinner, really earns its keep. It’s not just about earning money for bread. It’s about being the person who carries the stories that keep a culture alive when everything else is being burned.
The Legacy of the Film in 2026
Watching this movie today is a strange experience. When it came out, it felt like a history lesson or a cautionary tale. Now, with the political shifts in Afghanistan over the last few years, it feels like a documentary. The struggles Parvana faces—not being allowed to walk outside without a male guardian, being barred from schools—are the current reality for millions of girls.
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Critics at the time, like those from The New York Times and The Guardian, praised the film for its lack of "Disney-fied" solutions. There’s no magic lamp. No one breaks into song to solve a systemic crisis. It’s gritty. It’s honest.
- Production: Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Productions, Aircraft Pictures.
- Key Fact: The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards.
- Realism: The crew consulted with Afghan artists and historians to ensure the depictions of Kabul were architecturally and culturally accurate to the late 90s/early 2000s era.
How to Support the Message Behind the Film
If you've watched the movie and felt that knot in your stomach, you aren't alone. The cast of The Breadwinner and the production team often point viewers toward organizations that actually do the work on the ground. This isn't just entertainment; it's a call to look at the world a bit more closely.
Don’t just watch it for the art. Watch it to understand the cost of silence.
The most important takeaway from the film is something Parvana’s father says: "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." In a world that feels increasingly loud and chaotic, that bit of wisdom is worth more than the price of a streaming subscription.
Actionable Next Steps
- Watch the "Making Of" Featurettes: If you have the Blu-ray or access to the digital extras, watch the segments on the voice recording sessions. Seeing Saara Chaudry and the others in the booth adds a lot of depth to your next rewatch.
- Research the Current Situation: Look up the work of organizations like LEARN Afghanistan, founded by Pashtana Durrani, which focuses on digital literacy and education for girls in areas where schools are closed.
- Explore the Source Material: Read the original novel by Deborah Ellis. It’s a quick read but contains even more detail about the lives of the secondary characters and the sheer logistics of Parvana's survival.
- Follow the Studio: Keep an eye on Cartoon Saloon's upcoming projects. Their commitment to hand-drawn animation and socially conscious storytelling is unparalleled in the industry right now.