Review: He Named Me Malala

It starts with a voice. It always does, doesn't it? One voice, speaking up in the silence. That was the case with Malala Youfsazai's story, and it is the case with Davis Guggenheim's documentary, HE NAMED ME MALALA. As Malala tells the story of her namesake -- a Pashtun folk hero who led Afghanistan to victory against British troops but died in the process -- painted figures appear onscreen, an animated history which brings her words to life. And then we are taken to the present Malala's story, in the hospital after she has been shot in the head by the Taliban for speaking out about women's education.

Such an opening is only a glimpse of what is to come in the next 88 minutes of footage: beautiful cinematography to encapsulate a beautiful story. The film splits into two tracks: one track follows the history of Malala's village and her upbringing under the rule of Mullah Fazlullah and, more importantly, under the provision of her family; and the other track follows the Yousafzai family's life in Birmingham, England, where they have lived since the shooting. In its entirety, the film tracks the journey of an incredible woman, who still today works to achieve equality for women.

The story alone is touching, but what strengthens is it even more is the visual component that Guggenheim adds. The animation acts as a portal, taking us back into Malala's childhood when "school was [her] home," and connecting even the simplest of notions -- her father's stammer, for example -- to the cause that the whole family represents: if something prevents you from speaking, keep trying until your words get out.

There is honestly not much to say about this film in the way of negativity... HE NAMED ME MALALA is now playing at the Midtown Cinema! Come check it out!