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Thought-provoking. Cameo by Secretary of State Clinton included.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry trailer - Winner Sundance 2012 Special Jury Prize
http://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-ai-weiwei-never-sorry
REVIEW: AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
(ALISON KLAYMAN, USA, 2012)
WRITTEN BY CHRIS CHANG
Either you know the name Ai Weiwei or you are, to some degree, clueless. The Chinese government would prefer the latter. Unfortunately for them, the reputation of the man Time magazine short-listed for 2011’s Person of the Year cover story just seems to grow. That was the same year security forces detained Ai at the Beijing Capital Airport. He “disappeared” for three months. Hillary Clinton, among others, was furious. Ai resurfaced unharmed but clearly shaken. His homecoming, i.e., his not-so-triumphant return to the studio/fortress he designed himself, is one of the numerous eye-opening incidents woven into Alison Klayman’s intriguing documentary. The world may think it knows who this man is, but it has never had the chance—until now—to really see him in action.
The film begins with a quasi-parable and ends with a call to arms: “Never Retreat, Retweet!” When the artist is first seen in his massive lair, the compound is revealed to be equal parts sanctuary, self-imposed prison, and animal shelter. One especially clever feline (out of 40) has taught itself how to open a door. The sage-like Ai pontificates: “The biggest difference between people and cats is that cats will open the door but they will never close it behind them.” He doesn’t elaborate but, clearly, there’s a lesson to be learned. By film’s end, Ai will have closed a few allegorical doors himself.
<>
REVIEW: AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
(ALISON KLAYMAN, USA, 2012)
WRITTEN BY CHRIS CHANG
Either you know the name Ai Weiwei or you are, to some degree, clueless. The Chinese government would prefer the latter. Unfortunately for them, the reputation of the man Time magazine short-listed for 2011’s Person of the Year cover story just seems to grow. That was the same year security forces detained Ai at the Beijing Capital Airport. He “disappeared” for three months. Hillary Clinton, among others, was furious. Ai resurfaced unharmed but clearly shaken. His homecoming, i.e., his not-so-triumphant return to the studio/fortress he designed himself, is one of the numerous eye-opening incidents woven into Alison Klayman’s intriguing documentary. The world may think it knows who this man is, but it has never had the chance—until now—to really see him in action.
The film begins with a quasi-parable and ends with a call to arms: “Never Retreat, Retweet!” When the artist is first seen in his massive lair, the compound is revealed to be equal parts sanctuary, self-imposed prison, and animal shelter. One especially clever feline (out of 40) has taught itself how to open a door. The sage-like Ai pontificates: “The biggest difference between people and cats is that cats will open the door but they will never close it behind them.” He doesn’t elaborate but, clearly, there’s a lesson to be learned. By film’s end, Ai will have closed a few allegorical doors himself.
<>
http://storyhunter.tv/blog/ai_wei_wei_never_sorry
AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY
Written by Jaron Gilinsky on Mar. 19, 2012
This documentary ( http://aiweiweineversorry.com ) takes us inside the life of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei.
We first meet him in his Beijing compound, talking about a cat. He lives with more than 50 cats, but has a special affinity towards one of them. "Only one cat has the ability to open doors," recounts Ai Wei Wei (Cut to a broll shot of the special cat jumping 5 feet off the ground and on the way clipping the doorknob, landing on four paws, and sleekly sliding through the open door). "If I didn't have this cat, I would never have known that cats could open doors."
That cat, of course, symbolizes Ai Wei Wei. There are many Chinese people, but not many who dare to challenge the regime the way he has. There is definitely only one Chinese person with the courage to create an internet meme called, "Fuck You Motherland."
In his gigantic, fortress like art/living compound with surveillance cameras honed in on him and government agents lurking constantly, Ai Wei Wei seems as happy as can be. He mocks the authorities by making fake surveillance cameras as pieces of art. He drops ancient and priceless pieces of pottery or spray paints the Coca Cola symbol on them. He makes documentaries that travel beyond the "Great Firewall of China" to report what is actually happening there. He is a rebel after my own heart.
His mother worries about his safety and in one candid scene she breaks down and weeps for her son, imploring him to subdue his antics. Yet, Wei Wei possesses the same quality that all freedom fighters and truth tellers seem to possess. A sublime calmness and confidence in what he does and how he lives. He is well aware that he could lose his life and/or freedom at a moment's notice. But why would that get in the way of pursuing a righteous cause?
Ai Wei Wei is a superhero among men, one of the greatest human rights heroes of our generation, and a brilliant communications professional. His rabble-rousing and rebellious artworks are broadcast to his loyal legion of social media followers on Twitter and elsewhere. He knows just how and when to use the medium to promote his cause, get messages out, or just to say "Fuck You" to the Chinese government.
<>
AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY
Written by Jaron Gilinsky on Mar. 19, 2012
This documentary ( http://aiweiweineversorry.com ) takes us inside the life of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei.
We first meet him in his Beijing compound, talking about a cat. He lives with more than 50 cats, but has a special affinity towards one of them. "Only one cat has the ability to open doors," recounts Ai Wei Wei (Cut to a broll shot of the special cat jumping 5 feet off the ground and on the way clipping the doorknob, landing on four paws, and sleekly sliding through the open door). "If I didn't have this cat, I would never have known that cats could open doors."
That cat, of course, symbolizes Ai Wei Wei. There are many Chinese people, but not many who dare to challenge the regime the way he has. There is definitely only one Chinese person with the courage to create an internet meme called, "Fuck You Motherland."
In his gigantic, fortress like art/living compound with surveillance cameras honed in on him and government agents lurking constantly, Ai Wei Wei seems as happy as can be. He mocks the authorities by making fake surveillance cameras as pieces of art. He drops ancient and priceless pieces of pottery or spray paints the Coca Cola symbol on them. He makes documentaries that travel beyond the "Great Firewall of China" to report what is actually happening there. He is a rebel after my own heart.
His mother worries about his safety and in one candid scene she breaks down and weeps for her son, imploring him to subdue his antics. Yet, Wei Wei possesses the same quality that all freedom fighters and truth tellers seem to possess. A sublime calmness and confidence in what he does and how he lives. He is well aware that he could lose his life and/or freedom at a moment's notice. But why would that get in the way of pursuing a righteous cause?
Ai Wei Wei is a superhero among men, one of the greatest human rights heroes of our generation, and a brilliant communications professional. His rabble-rousing and rebellious artworks are broadcast to his loyal legion of social media followers on Twitter and elsewhere. He knows just how and when to use the medium to promote his cause, get messages out, or just to say "Fuck You" to the Chinese government.
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