Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case

2013

1h 26m

Documentary

List

93%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

69%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

In 2011, activist and conceptual artist Ai Weiwei is kidnapped and imprisoned by Chinese authorities. Following his release, he faces a lawsuit filed by the Chinese government.

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Premiered Dec 14

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Drew Hunt

Chicago Reader

Ai granted Johnsen significant access to his personal and professional lives following his release, including his tender interactions with his young son, and the film's intimate nature recalls the verite style of Ai's own video work.

Jun 19, 2014

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Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

Remarkably intimate and astute.

Jun 5, 2014

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Kenneth Baker

San Francisco Chronicle

Although expertly edited, Johnsen's film, whose soundtrack ends with Nina Simone's "Feeling Good," presents a less effective portrait of Ai than Klayman's does.

Rated: 2/4

May 29, 2014

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

A bold political statement, affirming the freedom of expression in a time when it can land an artist jail.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 31, 2018

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Joe Bendel

Epoch Times

A source of inspiration and outrage, Fake Case is highly recommended for all viewers who value free expression.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 17, 2016

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Chris Stamm

Willamette Week

Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case finds its titular subject beaten but unbowed.

Rated: B

Jan 2, 2016

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Audience Member

The saga of Ai Weiwei continues. Just as captivating as Never Sorry, the Fake Case shows Weiwei's bold and defiant spirit as he is released from a ridiculous charge and makes the decision to keep going after the communist system.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I find Ai Weiwei's tale engrossing and important. A-

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

A peek at the life of Chinese artist and political dissident Ai Weiwei as he sits under unofficial house arrest awaiting a verdict on (likely fabricated) charges of tax evasion. This is an important document of a man who refuses to be bullied (and there's no bigger bully in the world than the Chinese government), so it's unfortunate that much of this day-to-day footage is mundane and assembled in such a way that the drama of the situation gets lost.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Remarkable and important cinema

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

It's an interesting technique, showing us Ai Weiwei's daily existence interposed with, essentially, title cards telling the important developments of his house arrest and lawsuit. An interesting technique; not necessarily a successful technique. It has moments of charm, though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

walter m

After he is released on bail and probation after being detained on charges of tax evasion, the dissident, renegade and gadly artist Ai Weiwei is told by his mother that if this had been happening in the 50's, the Chinese authorities would have simply had him shot. Instead, the authorities go for the death of a thousand cuts, removing his presence from the local interenet, as it is also remarked how much weight Ai Weiwei lost while in prison. But this different approach has less to do with how the Chinese government might have mellowed over the decades, than as to how the world has changed with almost everybody having a camera, thus making it that much harder for a government to disappear a promiment personality totally from view. Luckily, at least one of those cameras belongs to a camera crew which is where this documentary comes in, circumventing the rule against his giving interviews. Otherwise, Ai Weiwei continues to not only make the work of the Chinese government public but also against their liking simple nudity to pornography which is not only the custom there, as he also puts out his rotund form to make his point. To his credit, he is less interested in power than in inspring others which is where a spectacular flight of paper airplanes comes into play. All the while, he maintains an apartment tantalizingly across the street from the American embassy where a parachute would definitely come in handy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Andreas Johnsen

Director

Andreas Johnsen

Screenwriter

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Critics Consensus: Godzilla is Certified Fresh

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Synopsis

In 2011, activist and conceptual artist Ai Weiwei is kidnapped and imprisoned by Chinese authorities. Following his release, he faces a lawsuit filed by the Chinese government.

Director: Andreas Johnsen
Screenwriter: Andreas Johnsen
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.6K
Runtime: 1h 26m

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