The Breadwinner

A fantastical myth, woven through the propulsive main story, serves as a distraction to the characters in their most distressed moments. Story as lesson. Story as history. Also, story as entertainment. Story as escape.

Along with the eerie beauty of the animation there is a salving streak of humour that softens this tale's sharper edges, reminding us that - for children - laughter and bravery walk hand in hand.

This beautiful and continually surprising film makes us think about what children can and can't bear.

This is a day-to-day survival story that stirs the heart and fires the imagination.

Not the most obvious subjects for a family animation, but The Breadwinner tackles them all with devastating economy.

The Breadwinner is thrillingly alive with the delicacy, artistry and wit of human touch.

The Breadwinner is a beautifully-constructed yet grueling story of female bravery that feels both timeless and timely.

... An animation gem that exudes sensibility and strikes a difficult equilibrium: heart-wrenching without being a tearjerker, and emotional without becoming an artificial motivational speech. [Full review in Spanish]

Unlike the dismal box office hit The Boss Baby, here's a toon flick that fully deserved its Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Beautifully animated, it's intense, inspiring and further proof that good storytelling is good storytelling regardless of milieu.