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He Named Me Malala Shows Age Matters Little for Change is a sponsored post on behalf of ReviewWire Media for 20th Century Fox. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
When you think about someone changing the world, who do you think about?
Do you only think of someone who has done something truly amazing which had a huge effect on many people? Or do you think about someone who has done something small which affected just a few people?
Is the change something grand like donating millions of dollars towards a good cause? Or is the change something which started small and had a ripple effect?
Truly, we can ALL effect change in our world. It can be something large or it can be more of a pay it forward phenomena where your small act might seem inconsequential yet lead to a larger impact down the line.
Today I want to share about a documentary that shows how one person can take a stand and end up having a much bigger impact than initially envisioned. And that person wasn’t even an adult!
About He Named Me Malala
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 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 (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman) 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.
Our Thoughts on He Named Me Malala
Initially, no one else in the family expressed an interest in watching this documentary. So, I put it on at a time when I thought I could watch it without others interrupting me.
Within short order, I had a few family members joining me to view this documentary which not only informs you on the life of Malala, but also what life is like in Pakistan and other countries where the education of girls is prohibited or squashed.
Unlike some documentaries I’ve watched, the producers elected to have some components presented in an animated style that is a bit reminiscent of watercolor. Those sections are presented more as stories, filling in the gaps where original footage is unavailable. Those involved in those ‘stories’ narrate while you watch the action play out in the animation. Other parts of the past are presented through photos or video footage they were able to acquire. And, for large sections of the documentary, you see Malala in her new home far from her beloved Pakistan.
To say that I have no first-hand experience of a life like Malala seems almost like an understatement. Rather, like many other women in the western world, I have led a much more privileged life. Education of all has become the norm rather than something only the elite could experience. But, in many countries, this is not the case. Instead, the girls are expected to be in the background learning how to tend the house or work the fields with men telling them what they need to know.
Malala learned as a child the importance of education. More importantly, she learned from her parents that it was something not only to prize but to seek out. When schools became targets of destruction and people were scared into keeping girls home from school, Malala decided to speak up. While it was anonymous at first, she and her father soon realized that hiding in their anonymity was not enough and her face became a target.
That she survived what was meant to be her execution is nothing short of a miracle. That she recovered and has emerged as a stronger advocate for the education of women practically blows one’s mind.
Rather than give away any more, I highly encourage you to watch the documentary. Don’t miss the global broadcast of He Named Me Malala on the National Geographic Channel on Monday, February 29th at 8 pm est / 7 pm cst.
Watch the trailer and see for yourself….
Do you remember hearing anything about Malala on the news?
Are documentaries like this something that you or your family enjoy?
2 Comments
I’ve read about Malala before. She’s such an inspiring role model for kids to follow. Definitely a good one for my whole family to watch together
Great review. I remember hearing about Malala in the news and am so inspired by her courage to help other girls like herself get an education. There is so much suffering in the world and Malala gives so many people hope that they can help others wherever they are. The documentary sounds very interesting.
I’ve read about Malala before. She’s such an inspiring role model for kids to follow. Definitely a good one for my whole family to watch together
Great review. I remember hearing about Malala in the news and am so inspired by her courage to help other girls like herself get an education. There is so much suffering in the world and Malala gives so many people hope that they can help others wherever they are. The documentary sounds very interesting.