Bread & Roses (2023)

Bread & Roses (2023). 1h 30m

“Greetings again from the darkness. After so many decades of groups fighting to gain acceptance and rights and freedom, it seems recently there has been entirely too much focus on removing rights from some. Likely the most harrowing example of this is whatu0026#39;s described as lightning striking in August 2021 when the Taliban entered Afghanistan. Documentarian Sahra Mani goes deep inside the country to show and tell the personal stories of three Afghan women.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLife is described as u0026quot;normalu0026quot; prior to the Taliban takeover. Zahra was a working dentist and recently engaged to Omid. There is happiness in the families and community. Soon, Zahrau0026#39;s dental office becomes a clandestine meeting place for activists seeking a way to rebel without getting detained or tortured. Taranom struggles with the isolation that goes with living in a safe house away from her community, while Sharifa serves as the most common example of women stuck at home with few liberties. If you need a definition of systemic oppression, this film provides it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo education past sixth grade. No speaking in public. Very limited job opportunities. This new world finds women are first oppressed at home via fathers, brothers, and husbands, and then from a larger perspective by the Taliban. Activism and resistance require great courage, and those involved in the Civil Rebellion prefer peaceful protests, not violence. Their chants of u0026quot;Education is our rightu0026quot; and u0026quot;Work, bread, educationu0026quot; are simple and direct.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePrevented from leaving the country – thereu0026#39;s always a documentation issue with visas – the women who are able form backroom schools and work strategically against Taliban mandates. Zahar is even arrested and later goes missing for months. This is the life of women whose personal rights have been stripped. Director Sahra Mani ends with updates on Zahar, Taranom, and Sharifa, and the film serves as a gut-wrenching viewing experience for those who have gotten u0026#39;comfortableu0026#39; with the phrase u0026#39;Taliban mandatesu0026#39;. This is a plea for attention and assistance. Producers on the film include Jennifer Lawrence and Malala Yousafzai.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn Apple TV+ beginning November 22, 2024.”