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Human Rights Watch Film Festival · 2017

Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2017

Full London line-up

Programme

16 films · 6 reviews

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500 Years

From a historic genocide trial to the overthrow of a president, the sweeping story of mounting resistance played out in Guatemala’s recent history is told through the actions and perspectives of the majority indigenous Mayan population, who now stand poised to reimagine their society.

(Country: Guatemala; Year: 2016; Director: Pamela Yates)

All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of IF Stone

A look at the life and work of American journalist, IF Stone, who leads a one-man crusade against government deception.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2016; Director: Fred Peabody; Stars: IF Stone, Carl Bernstein, Noam Chomsky, Desmond Cole, David Corn, Tom Engelhardt, John Carlos Frey, Amy Goodman, Glenn Greenwald, Chris Hedges, Ana Kasparian, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Michael Moore, Colin Powell, Jeremy Scahill)

The Apology

Story of women who were sexually exploited by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2016; Director: Tiffany Hsiung; Writer: Tiffany Hsiung)

Black Code

Review preview for Black Code

Cinematographer-turned-documentarian de Pencier has an eye for a good image but less of an ear for consistent argument.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
Examining the human rights pros and cons of the internet in terms of citizen journalism and global surveillance.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2016; Director: Nicholas de Pencier; Stars: Felipe Altenfeldor, Ron Deibert, Wjd Dhnie, Jon Karlung, Felipe Pecanha)

Full review

Child Mother

Conversations between mothers and their families reveal haunting histories of women forced into marriage as young children.

(Year: 2016; Director: Ronen Zaretzky, Yael Kipper)

Complicit

The journey of Chinese migrant worker-turned-activist Yi Yeting, a Foxconn factory worker who takes his fight against the global electronic industry from his hospital bed to the international stage.

(Country: US, Hong Kong, China; Year: 2017; Director: Heather White; Writer: Chris Seward)

Girl Unbound: The War To Be Her

Review preview for Girl Unbound: The War To Be Her

Heidenreich’s shooting is economical and the editing tight, so that squash games are included to show Toorpakai’s abilities on the court and the support for her off it, without getting in the way of the bigger issues surrounding equal rights.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A young woman represents Pakistan on the national squash team, despite the Taliban's threats.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Erin Heidenreich; Stars: Maria Toorpakai Wazir)

Full review

The Good Postman

Review preview for The Good Postman

Hristov stands back and silently observes as the election campaign plays out, showing rather than telling, how much economic circumstances can drive both word and deed.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
In a small Bulgarian village troubled by the ongoing refugee crisis, a local postman runs for mayor — and learns that even minor deeds can outweigh good intentions.

(Country: Finland, Bulgaria; Year: 2016; Director: Tonislav Hristov; Writer: Tonislav Hristov, Lubomir Tsvetkov)

Full review

I Am Not Your Negro

Review preview for I Am Not Your Negro

The full use of what film can do is eye-opening - the juxtapositions jolt awareness of what is important and remains necessary.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 5 out of 5
Essay film based on James Baldwin's writing about the story of race in modern America.

(Country: US, France, Belgium, Switzerland; Year: 2016; Director: Raoul Peck; Writer: James Baldwin)

Full review See: Interview with Gay Talese about James Baldwin and I Am Not Your Negro , Gay Talese in conversation on James Baldwin and I Am Not Your Negro , Article about the 89th Academy Awards Oscar Best Documentary Feature Film nominees

Joshua: Teenager Vs Superpower

When the Chinese Communist Party backtracks on its promise of autonomy to Hong Kong, teenager Joshua Wong decides to save his city. Rallying thousands of kids to skip school and occupy the streets, Joshua becomes an unlikely leader in Hong Kong and one of China’s most notorious dissidents.

(Year: 2017; Director: Joe Piscatella)

Lost In Lebanon

Follows four Syrians who are building a community, sharing resources and attempting to advocate for themselves in their new land.

(Year: 2016; Director: Sophia Scott, George Scott)

Nowhere To Hide

Documentary follows a male nurse who is working and raising his children in Jalawla, Iraq, one of the world’s most dangerous and inaccessible areas.

(Year: 2016; Director: Zaradasht Ahmed)

The Settlers

Review preview for The Settlers

All in all, this is a troubling but well-presented and thorough examination of the settler conundrum facing Israel today.

Amber Wilkinson · 5 out of 5
A comprehensive examination of the settlement movement in the West Bank.

(Country: France, Canada, Israel, Germany; Year: 2016; Director: Shimon Dotan; Writer: Oron Adar, Shimon Dotan)

Full review See: Shimon Dotan in conversation about documentary The Settlers

They Call Us Monsters

Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Ben Lear)

Tickling Giants

Review preview for Tickling Giants

The humour itself is as light as a feather – a symbol used by Andeel in his animation to good effect – but the reaction from the regime(s) is about as subtle as a brick

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Charting Bassem Youssef’s rise as Egypt’s foremost on-screen satirist.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Sara Taksler; Writer: Sara Taksler; Stars: Bassem Youssef, Jon Stewart)

Full review

We'll Be Alright

The pitfalls of the Russian care system.

(Year: 2016; Director: Alexander Kuznetsov)