It's not political, it's people's lives: Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence has opened up about her decision to produce Bread And Roses, a documentary highlighting the harrowing realities of life for women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Despite strong objections from her family, who warned her against getting involved due to the risks, Lawrence felt a moral obligation to bring these stories to light.

The film, directed by Sahra Mani and co-produced by Malala Yousafzai, streaming on Apple TV+ starting Friday, documents the severe restrictions placed on Afghan women since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Mani described the devastating conditions: "The Taliban rule has been so severe on Afghan women that they can't go to work, sing, play music, go to a restaurant, buy food, or walk the street without a chaperone."

Reflecting on the Taliban's takeover, Lawrence explained her motivation for joining the project to The Hollywood Reporter. "My first reaction when watching that [Taliban takeover] was to do what the Taliban did not want us to do, which was to give access and facilities to the people on the ground to capture what was happening on the ground in real-time," she said. The actor went on to share her disbelief at the oppression faced by Afghan women. "I can't imagine not being able to take a taxi or not being able to listen to music. I can't imagine if just the sound of my voice was illegal."

While Lawrence has often championed social causes, this project came with particular challenges, including the concerns raised by her family and friends. "They definitely encouraged me not to [produce the film]," she admitted. "It's dangerous. Of course it is. But there's 20 million women whose lives are in danger."

The Hunger Games star has also faced criticism online, with detractors questioning her qualifications to address such a heavy subject. "I did a 60 Minutes interview where I explained that I dropped out of middle school, so I'm technically not educated," Lawrence said. "So, I think a common one, especially with this subject, is, 'Why is someone without an education trying to talk about politics?' To that, I say it's not political, it's people's lives."

She expanded on the distinction, saying the film's subject is inherently human rather than partisan. "It's political in the sense that you should push your congresspeople, and you should get involved to make our government more accountable. Then the UN can recognise gender apartheid. But I don't find it political. Also, I am educated in filmmaking. I'm educated in telling stories."

According to the BBC, the film is shot without a narrator and delivered in the Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto, Bread And Roses—its title borrowed from a 20th-century suffragette slogan—takes an immersive, fly-on-the-wall approach to storytelling.

Through the lenses of the protagonists, we witness the raw and harrowing moments of their resistance: demonstrations where they chant for "bread, education, and freedom," encounters with tear gas, arrests mid-protest, and the terrifying sound of Taliban forces breaking down their doors.

"Girls educated up to 12th grade are stuck at home," an older protester says, summing up the devastating impact of the Taliban's policies. "They had dreamed of being doctors, engineers, and teachers. It's tragic. They had dreams." Bread And Roses lays bare the weight of those dashed aspirations, weaving a narrative of courage and loss through the voices of the women who live it.