‘Bread And Roses’: Cannes Documentary by Sahra Mani and Jennifer Lawrence Depicts Harsh Life of Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has deteriorated rapidly since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in August 2021. The U.N. Security Council recently condemned the Taliban for systematically depriving Afghan women of their rights, demanding that they provide “full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls” in Afghan society. The documentary Bread and Roses, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, offers a heartbreakingly clear look at the dire reality for Afghan women. Directed by Sahra Mani and produced by Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrochi, and Mani, the film includes cell phone footage of brave women who defied the Taliban’s stay-at-home order and protested in the streets. The film also shows safe houses where some women are offered shelter, at least temporarily, as they try to escape to Pakistan. While the documentary may not be able to effect change in Afghanistan, it serves as a witness for history and ensures that the ordeal of Afghan women is not forgotten.