"Don't forget Afghan women," implored Zahra Mohammadi, one of the participants in the film "Bread and Roses", after its official presentation Sunday night to the Cannes public.

A "patchwork" of videos shot on the phone by activists on the spot, this documentary by Afghan director Sahra Mani offers a chilling dive into the struggle of these women for their rights.

"Like so many other artists, I can't go back to my country to do my job. That's how this device was born, which is above all the result of collective work," she told AFP.

Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban – who defend an extremely rigorous vision of Islam – have multiplied repressive measures against women.

Secondary school doors are closed to teenage girls, girls are banned from attending universities and parks are inaccessible to them.

(l-r) Producer Justine Ciarrocchi, Zahra Mohammadi, American actress Jennifer Lawrence and director Sahra Mani, during the photocall for the film "Breand and Roses", on May 21, 2023 at the 76th Cannes © Film Festival Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA /

Since December, they have also been banned from working for domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations. A ban that was extended to the United Nations in early April.

"I wanted to show the daily life but also the reality of these educated women who fight for their country," continues the one who became known in 2018 with her punchy film "A Thousand Girls Like Me", about the fight of an Afghan victim of incest.

The viewer follows several women including Zahra Mohammadi, a dentist whose medical office must close on the orders of the Taliban.

"Education, salary, freedom": at the sound of this mantra, transformed into a battle cry, these women chain demonstrations, risking their lives. Some are beaten in the street, others are arrested at home, when they do not disappear.

American actress Jennifer Lawrence and Zahra Mohammadi during the photocall for the film "Bread and Roses", on May 21, 2023 at the 76th Cannes © Film Festival Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA /

"No woman is safe in Afghanistan," insists the director, for whom these activists are "everyday warriors". Despite the harshness of the images, a sense of hope runs through the film.

The hope that the situation will eventually change. "Women are the future of the country and the Taliban are afraid of that," says the director.

The film was co-produced by the "Happiness Therapy" actress. "The support I received was decisive in being able to carry out the project," says the director, who says she is "eternally grateful" to her teams.

© 2023 AFP