Starring: Malala Yousafzai
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Rating: 4/5
He Named Me Malala
Malala Yousafzai is one of the most inspirational young women as she continues to fight for the right of every girl to get an education - that is despite being shot by the Taliban for her outspoken beliefs.
He Named Me Malala marks the return of Davis Guggenheim to the director's chair - he has already brought us films such as An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting For Superman - and he paints an interesting picture of this incredible young woman.
He Named Me Malala is an intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban and severely wounded by a gunshot when returning home on her school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old (she turned 18 this July) was singled out, along with her father, for advocating for girls' education, and the attack on her sparked an outcry from supporters around the world. She miraculously survived and is now a leading campaigner for girls' education globally as co-founder of the Malala Fund.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim shows us how Malala, her father Zia and her family are committed to fighting for education for all girls worldwide. The film gives us an inside glimpse into this extraordinary young girl's life - from her close relationship with her father who inspired her love for education, to her impassioned speeches at the UN, to her everyday life with her parents and brothers.
The attack on Malala Yousafzai was something that stunned the world but her fight back and her desire to keep up the fight has been something that has been even more inspiring.
Inspiring is a movie that is banded around a little too much for my liking... but that is exactly what Malala and you cannot help but feel that inspiration jump off the screen throughout this whole film.
Ok, He Named Me Malala doesn't go as deep as I was expecting and doesn't tell up much more than what we already know about Malala and what she has achieved since her recovery. Having said that, what this documentary captures so beautifully is the strength and the determination of this young girl.
Becoming a Taliban target would have made many run and hide, but with Malala, the complete opposite has happened. This attack turned her into a fighter, turned her into a force to be reckoned with, and made her shout her views even louder - you really cannot help but admire everything this young woman has done and achieved in such a short space of time.
He Named Me Malala does show many different sides to Malala, not only is she a smart and a real fighter, but she is a young woman who is funny, playful, and wants nothing more that the chance to learn. We know her as the crusader for women's rights, but this movie also paints her as a normal young girl who is worried about fitting in a new school.
From start to finish, He Named Me Malala is a wonderful portrayal of an extraordinary young woman who truly is on a path to change the world. It is an engrossing film that truly will inspire you to the core.
Ne Named Me Malala is out now.
Tagged in Malala Yousafzai