If the latest blockbuster sequels are making your brain numb, consider checking out these three riveting documentaries recommended by Amnesty International. You'll learn something new about human rights struggles around the world.
Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower. Available on Netflix, this short documentary follows Joshua Wong. The 20-year-old pro-democracy activist became a leader in Hong Kong's 2014 “Umbrella Revolution,” which seized headlines around the world as young students defied authorities to fight for the right to chart their own course. The film provides a deep look at those pivotal weeks that changed the lives of these young activists forever. It offers a fascinating perspective on the relationship between China and Hong Kong, and the potential for looming tensions as they move towards unification in 2047.
Human Flow. Available on Amazon Video, iTunes and Google Play, this documentary is produced by Ai Weiwei, world-renowned artist and activist. It offers a deeply personal perspective on the global refugee crisis and a gripping artistic vision. Weiwei, recipient of an Amnesty International Ambassadors of Conscience Award in 2015, shares personal interviews and stories from refugees living in Gaza, Kenya, Northern Greece, Jordan and Turkey. This is a must-watch for all those who are interested in learning more about the journey of migrants and the consequence of international conflict.
First They Killed My Father. Available on Netflix this doc is directed by Angelina Jolie and executively produced by her 16-year-old son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt. It shines a light on one of the lesser-known tragedies in southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. Told from the perspective of a young girl, this film follows the life of seven-year-old Loung Ung in Cambodia, where she was trained as a soldier by the notorious Khmer Rouge regime. The film shines a light on East-Asian culture and long-term political consequences of the war.
