The Breadwinner (2017)

The critic praises the film as a must-see animation that tackles cruelty, injustice and misogyny while remaining suitable for families. The power of storytelling as escape and resilience is singled out for particular praise.

The critic finds the film a sublime, heartfelt animated drama that contrasts sharply with formulaic Hollywood animation. Twomey is praised for her skillful blend of gritty realism and fantastical storytelling elements that highlight the power of narrative amid oppression.

The review hails the film as the best animated feature of 2017, describing it as a gorgeous and sobering fable about systemic misogyny that showcases the power of animation.

This striking and affecting animated film reminds viewers that animation can be every bit as much a medium for adults as for children. The critic highlights its vivid sense of a specific culture and gift for strikingly beautiful visuals in dusty Kabul.

The critic praises the film's vibrant yet harrowing portrayal of an Afghan girl's resilience under Taliban rule, noting how it maintains a child's perspective while blending brutal realities with enchanting storytelling.

An elegant animation about an Afghan girl who poses as a boy to feed her family under the Taliban, tackling difficult subjects with devastating economy and beauty. It renders bigotry, beatings and bombs in a way that is disturbing without being damaging, with echoes of Persepolis.

This powerful animated film serves as an appeal for women’s rights and a celebration of the creative spirit in its story of an Afghan girl supporting her family. The critic praises its empathetic look at the plight of women and the essential optimism conveyed through the heroine and score.

The film is a magical adaptation of Deborah Ellis’s novel about an 11-year-old girl who disguises herself as a boy to support her family under Taliban rule in Kabul. It blends realistic animation of daily life with fantastical storytelling sequences, praising the resilient young heroine, cultural authenticity, and the director’s debut feature.

The film is hailed as a moving and fiery takedown of fundamentalism and oppression that confirms Cartoon Saloon as a world-class animation studio. The blend of social realism with folkloric elements and its plea for cultural evolution are highlighted positively.

This is described as an accomplished animated drama that elevates the genre beyond mere entertainment through its layered storytelling. The superb animation, ambient sound, vocal performances and gentle handling of harsh realities like grief and oppression are praised.

Fantasy and reality collide in this animated tale of a girl in Taliban-controlled Kabul who poses as a boy to save her imprisoned father. The film vividly conveys the regime’s brutality through impressive animation while interweaving a visionary fantasy sequence in its powerful finale.

A childlike but harrowing animated feature set in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, following an 11-year-old girl who becomes the breadwinner by dressing as a boy. Its power lies in the simplicity of colours and line-drawing, vivid storytelling, and gorgeous surreal fantasy sequences within the film.

The film is an ambitious but occasionally uneven animated story of a young Afghan girl who disguises herself as a boy to support her family under Taliban rule. The critic praises its visual impressiveness and the sympathetic, compelling heroine while noting narrative clunkiness in subplots and pacing.

The animated film is worth celebrating as a work that qualifies in some ways as reportage on life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The critic singles out the director’s nuanced characterization and action along with the strong voice cast.

The critic faults the film for treating cross-dressing merely as a pragmatic plot device without exploring its subjective or emotional consequences for the protagonist, and finds the embedded fables uninteresting.

The critic praises the film's powerful balance between the cuteness and colour of its animation and the grim realities of life in war-torn Afghanistan. They single out the depth of expression in the characters and the inventive storybook-style sections for particular praise.

The critic finds the film timely and artistically assured, praising its cel-shaded animation and the story of a young Afghan girl who disguises herself as a boy to support her family under Taliban rule. Parvana's strength and the film's cultural scope are highlighted as standout elements.

The critic finds it a beautifully rendered animated film with a powerful story that stands out and could contend for Oscars. They single out the integration of Parvana's storytelling sequences with the main narrative as a glorious demonstration of the power of myth and truth.

The critic calls the film intelligent, humane and multi-layered, praising it as a substantial work that goes beyond its heroic narrative. They single out its portrayal of the depth and richness of Afghan culture and Parvana as an emotionally complex heroine.