Bread and Roses

Afghan director Sahra Mani's documentary "Bread and Roses" records the experience of Afghan women living under the rule of the Taliban since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. The film will be screened as a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival. The rise to power of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban movement has had a disastrous impact on women's rights, which had been slowly advancing, denying them access to education, employment and public spaces. Women have borne the brunt of the economic deterioration under the Taliban, which has left many families unable to afford basic necessities. Bread and Roses has been described as an apolitical story of resilience and "a raw, untainted account of the plight of women in Afghanistan." The film follows three women desperate to regain their autonomy, telling their stories primarily through their own lenses. Oscar-winners Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi are producing under their company's Excellent Cadaver banner, with Mani also taking on producer duties.