He Named Me Malala

PG-13

Released Oct 9, 2015

1h 27m

Documentary

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136 Reviews

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5,000+ Ratings

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After the Taliban tries to kill her for speaking out on behalf of girls' education, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai emerges as a leading advocate for children's rights and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

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Critics Consensus

He Named Me Malala spotlights a worthy subject, but without the focus her story deserves.

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alma s

Such an inspirational and amazing documentry. A def a must see, it change my life perspective and made me cry a lot!!! ❤❤❤

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Davis Guggenheim's documentary about the eponymous Pakistani teenager speaking out against Taliban forces to advocate the education of girls judiciously finesses our Islamophobia to shed light on the chivalry of the youngest-ever Nobel Prize recipient.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

- What's in a name? A lot, actually - The name "Malala" (or "Malalai") has long been associated with freedom and female strength in Afghani culture. One of Afghanistan's most beloved folk heroes is Malalai of Maiwan, who led her people into battle against the invading British colonisers during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. But the Malala most of us know is Malala Yousefzai, a young Pakastani woman fiercely in support of girls' education. In his latest documentary effort, He Named Me Malala, David Guggenheim delves into both the story of one of the world's most famous teenagers but also the intricate history of her name. It's not a perfect film, but it does a formidable job of showing us that Malala is a unique, surprising individual, and also part of a larger, longer story of humanity standing up to oppressors. Malala Yousefzai is a familiar face and name to most of us who keep up with social media, humanitarian figures, and a little thing called the Nobel Peace Prize. One October afternoon in 2012, Malala nearly became a casualty of the Taliban's efforts to prevent girls from attending school when she was shot in the head on her school bus by a Taliban gunman. Her miraculous recovery and public speaking has turned her into a global figure for peace and education. The film showcases her moving story, and her awe-inspiring speeches. Beautiful animated sequences show Malalai the warrior as well as the love story of Malala's parents. But the true power in this project lies in the moments where we get to better understand her family and her relationships. Her awareness of herself as a child, a teenager, a sister, and a daughter shines through typical teenage moments and lighthearted interactions with her brothers. In one scene, her little brother berates her for her devotion to homework, and laments that she rarely gets in trouble for her naughtiness. In another, Malala shows us images of Roger Federer and Brad Pitt and talks celebrity crushes. She isn't just a Nobel laureate - she's a girl like any other who giggles over a special someone and has nerves about the dating world. She appreciates her life in England, and how she's been able to recover and continue her education, but she's homesick for the earth, people, and legacy of her home country. Astonishingly (or maybe not so much?) Malala appears to have no desire to seek revenge or retaliation against her attackers. Her voice is full of emotion as she speaks of the men who shot her - disappointment that they ignore Islam's call for peace, and pity for their own lack of love and education. Even so, she stands against them and will not be stopped. Just like her namesake, Malala has picked her battle and she's determined not to be defeated. When Ziauddin Yousefzai's wife gave birth to a girl on 12 July 1997, he surely had no idea that his daughter would lead a bold campaign in the face of death and danger. But he named her Malala anyway - and she has grown into a force as legendary as her namesake. So check out He Named Me Malala for a fascinating, if cursory, glimpse into the world of this strong young woman. It reminds us that the fight for justice is not metaphorical; it's very real, with sweat, blood, and bullets, especially for girls and women across the globe. ---------- This review was first published on Narrative Muse, http://www.narrativemuse.co/movies/he-named-me-malala, and was written Debbie Holloway. Narrative Muse curates the best books and movies by and about women and non-binary folk on our website http://narrativemuse.co and our social media channels.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

5/2/18 Netflix - A great insight into Malala and Pakistan's difficulties with Women's Rights

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Audience Member

I was choking up in the first 15 minutes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

A ten minute Daily Show interview with this amazing young woman was a revealing as this 90 minute documentary.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Davis Guggenheim

Director

Malala Yousafzai

Self

Walter F. Parkes

Producer

Laurie MacDonald

Producer

Mohamed Al Mubarak

Executive Producer

Michael Garin

Executive Producer

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He Named Me Malala: Movie Clip - Brotherly Love

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He Named Me Malala: Trailer 2

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Bilge Ebiri

Spirituality & Health

Ultimately, this gentle documentary is less interested in the typical needs of drama and more in the patient, accepting demeanor of the remarkable young woman at its heart.

Mar 24, 2020

Full Review

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

Malala is highly confident, well spoken yet cheeky, and the story is powerful and inspiring.

Aug 15, 2019

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

HE NAMED ME MALALA feels really impersonal (despite Guggenheim's attempts to eek out an engaging film), and it does her story a major disservice as it succumbs to the male perspective it tries--and fails--to denounce.

Rated: C-

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

Despite Guggenheim’s asymmetrical approach, Malala’s unquestionable bravery and youthful idealism shine through.

Aug 1, 2023

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Chris McCoy

Memphis Flyer

Even beyond Malala, there's plenty of interesting material to work with here, such as the inside explanation of the Taliban's appeal to the uneducated populations. But He Named Me Malala is simply unable to present it in a coherent fashion.

Jan 10, 2020

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Debbie Holloway

Narrative Muse

Malala is a unique, surprising individual, who's part of a larger history of standing up to oppression.

Oct 21, 2019

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Synopsis

After the Taliban tries to kill her for speaking out on behalf of girls' education, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai emerges as a leading advocate for children's rights and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Director: Davis Guggenheim
Producer: Mohamed Al Mubarak, Michael Garin, Jeff Skoll, Shannon Dill
Screenwriter: Malala Yousafzai
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Participant Media
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Disturbing Images and Threats)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 13, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.6M
Runtime: 1h 27m

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