Three Afghan women armed with nothing but their phones. Bread & Roses is a documentary directed by Sahra Mani and produced by Malala Yousafzai and Jennifer Lawrence, diving into the silent yet courageous fight of women resisting oppression.
Giving a Voice to Silenced Women
“When Kabul fell in 2021, all [Afghan] women lost their very basic rights,” lamented Jennifer Lawrence during the promotion of the documentary Bread & Roses, which she produced. Since their return to power, the Taliban have imposed draconian restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. Secondary schools and universities are closed to them, public sector jobs are forbidden, and their freedom of movement is severely restricted. More recently, they have also been banned from speaking publicly.
For Malala Yousafzai, producer of the documentary and renowned activist for education rights, this film is a way to amplify voices that others are trying to erase. “The Taliban claim to represent culture and religion, while they’re just a very small group of men,” she denounces.
The title Bread & Roses originates from a slogan used during American labor struggles in the early 20th century, symbolizing the right to a decent life (“bread”) and human dignity (“roses”). Here, it illustrates the balance between survival and Afghan women’s pursuit of emancipation.
A Documentary Filmed by Afghan Women Using Phones
What sets Bread & Roses apart from other documentaries is its collaborative approach. Exiled after Kabul fell, director Sahra Mani worked with several Afghan women who remained in the country, teaching them to use their phones to document their resistance.
The documentary follows the journey of “three incredible women” living in Kabul, among the 20 million women deprived of fundamental rights, “facing something that most of us can’t even imagine,” explains Jennifer Lawrence. These women risked everything, including their lives, to film their stories.
Each woman represents a different aspect of resistance. Zahra, a dentist whose clinic is at risk of being shut down by the Taliban, is thrust into a leadership role in protests against the regime. Sharifa, a former civil servant stripped of her job and confined to her home, finds solace in hanging laundry on her rooftop to catch a breath of fresh air. And Taranom, an activist exiled in Pakistan, watches helplessly as her homeland descends into darkness.
A Call for Global Solidarity
Bread & Roses is not just a documentary; it is a call for global solidarity. By shedding light on these women’s stories, the film urges viewers to reflect on their own role in the fight for human rights. How can we support these women? How can we denounce injustices while respecting the complexity of their situation?
The film aims to educate and raise awareness. By providing a platform for these voices, it challenges governments, organizations, and individuals to take action—whether through advocacy for girls’ education, financial support for local organizations, or widespread dissemination of the message.
Three years after the Taliban’s rise to power, no country has officially recognized their regime. International diplomacy continues to condemn their treatment of women, but these protests have yet to yield tangible results. “I do hope that more Muslim countries and Muslim leaders (will) come forward to challenge the Taliban,” said Malala Yousafzai. “Islam does not prohibit a girl from learning (or) working,” she clarified.