He Named Me Malala

With the familiar names behind this documentary and because I could see it for free, I took in "He Named Me Malala". I am glad I did because I didn't know much about her life before the attack on her life. Producers Laurie MacDonald and Walter F. Parkes have collaborated with Steven Spielberg earlier in their careers and director Davis Guggenheim is an Oscar winner so I could tell that this film was worth seeing. Thomas Newman's score is typical but in his case, that is a good thing. Malala Yousafzai has become exactly what the Taliban was trying to prevent and the irony is that they are mostly responsible for her worldwide fame. This documentary explores this fact and other subjects that are also probably in Malala's book. The use of animation and contrast create a powerful film that makes you think about a lot of things. I will try to avoid sounding political in what I write because my goal is to analyze the film.

I think a very important part of the opening animated sequence about Malalai of Maiwand is the line, “It’s better to live like a lion for one day, than to live like a slave for 100 years.” That speaks volumes about Malala's cause. The style of animation in this documentary reminded me of 1987's "The Man Who Planted Trees", the Oscar-winning animated short. Animation supervisor Jason Carpenter's work beautifully depicts the parts of the story that weren't on archival videotape or in photos. I enjoyed the scene that shows Malala growing up as she observes one classroom after another. The opening of this documentary is not uncommon in terms of the way exposition is delivered. There is a hint of the subject's fame, glimpses of the subject away from the spotlight followed by the extent of the fame the subject enjoys. Another one of my favorite lines in the movie is when Malala says that she has no hatred at all towards the Taliban for what they did to her. It is how she says this fact that is so powerful because she uses educated metaphors like "atom" & "nucleus" and how not even their size compares to how small her anger is concerning the attempt on her life. She uses knowledge in expressing forgiveness towards people who think that a woman's education is sinful. Other positive messages from this documentary concern marriage, the influence of parents on their children, love and religion. I also agree that religion does not hinder learning and that you don't have to be a feminist to support women's rights. One thing I learned from this movie was that Malala was getting commendations before the attack on her. It was more local in nature but it shows why she became a target. The movie contrasts Malala's message very well with the ideology of the Taliban. One is about liberation and the other is suppression. I felt fearful in the scenes that portray the tactics of the Taliban in enforcing their beliefs. One of the most powerful moments in the film is when we are shown pictures of the bus with blood on the seats. There is no sound during this moment and that is what creates a lasting memory. Even though Malala didn't lose her life, she lost other things. She is permanently damaged physically and because of the continued threats on her life, Malala can't go home to Pakistan. This mirrors the stories of other famous people who win so much but at a cost.

The title of this film is significant and its meaning is explained at the end of the documentary. Malala chose this life. Her father named her but did not choose this life for her as some have suggested. The title also references Malalai of Maiwand and the similarities between two women. "He Named Me Malala" uses contrast and animated sequences very well. I wanted to know more about this girl & her life before she came to England and this movie provided a great window.

4 Stars