Bread and Roses reportedly sheds light on the challenging lives of women in Afghanistan during the oppressive reign of the Taliban. In an interview with Variety, Lawrence expressed her dismay, stating, "It all just collapsed in a matter of days." She recalled watching the events unfold from America, where the impending overturning of Roe v. Wade added to their feelings of helplessness and frustration. Lawrence and her team were determined to move these stories from the news cycle to people's consciousness, urging them to empathize and take action for the plight of these women.
To capture the narratives of the suppressed women firsthand, Lawrence's production company, Excellent Cadaver, partnered with filmmaker Sahra Mani, who had previously been in touch with Afghan women on the ground. Lawrence revealed that Mani was provided with footage recorded by women using their cell phones, with occasional assistance from a trusted camera person.
Justine Ciarrocchi, Lawrence's producing partner, added that Mani had been out of Kabul for about a month before its fall, ensuring her safety. Ciarrocchi shared the positive news that all the protagonists featured in the documentary had managed to escape Afghanistan unharmed.
The footage of women living under lockdown had a profound impact on Lawrence and Ciarrocchi. Ciarrocchi spoke of one protagonist, Sharifa, and the tedium that had become a part of her life. Witnessing the once vibrant and free-spirited Sharifa succumb to cabin fever was an emotionally painful experience. Meanwhile, Lawrence highlighted the story of another character, a successful dentist who was forced to abandon her practice under Taliban rule.
Amidst these challenges, Lawrence and her partner expressed their hope that Bread and Roses would receive worldwide distribution, allowing the stories of these women to reach a broader audience and ignite a global conversation about their struggles.
