Human Flow

Movie: Human Flow
Year: 2016
Directed by: Ai Weiwei
Produced by : Ai Weiwei,Chin-chin Yap,Heino Deckert, and Andy Cohen
Trailer:Human Flow Trailer
Amazon: Human Flow
Running time: 140 minutes

Synopsis

This documentary shows the massive human migration taking place in parts of the world. The film uses interviews from experts and refugees in regards to human migration.

Topics focused on in the documentary: 

 The film looks at how refugee movements can be classified into four causation categories: wars among states, ethnic conflicts, non-ethnic conflicts, and oppression. The documentary itself shows refugees who are at the mercy of border guards and humanitarian organization to decide on what their fate might be and whether they will survive. This film also looks at the idea of  "shared responsibility", and how shows some nations are coming together to provide aid whereas others are hesitant. This creates the question about  being responsible for each other as humans.

Ai Weiwei

The documentary is personal for Ai Weiwei. His father was the famous poet Ai Qing. He was branded an enemy of the state by the Chinese Communist government. They forced him and his family into exile. Later Weiwei father was seen as a prominent national poet (after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976.) This unique personal experience creates another dimension in regards to this film as well as in his other artistic works.

Quote from Ai Weiwei  in regards to this film:

"Humanity is subjective. It can be seen in poetry, as I’ve included in the film. It can be seen in a landscape. I wanted to establish a relationship between a tragic human crisis and a historical, larger context." (The Atlantic)

Facts about refugees: 

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was formed in 1950 to help the 40 million refugees across Europe after WWII.
• In 2017, 65.6 million individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide because of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations, per the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• It is estimated that 50% of refugees are under the age of 18 (UNHCR)
• Developing countries host 80% of the world’s refugees (UNHCR)
• World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20th by UNHCR.
•  There are some  protections in place for Refugees. 
• Under international law, refugees are not allowed to be forced back to the countries they have fled. ( Human Rights Education Associates)

Why I think you should see it:

I think that it is extremely important to understand what is going on in the world in regards to refugees and the policy that the country you live in puts in place due to these migrations.