He Named Me Malala is like an informercial regarding the importance of girls going to school regardless of all obstacles with Malala as their herald. He Named Me Malala mainly focuses on Malala’s life after she got shot, moved to the UK and became an international symbol of courage and forgiveness. He Named Me Malala occasionally dissolves into pastel animation to represent her recollection of past events.
He Named Me Malala primarily interviews Malala and occasionally features her father and brothers. Her mother is silent though she makes appearances. He Named Me Malala implies that she and Malala are very different. There are hints that Malala’s life is constrained in ways that contrast with her revolutionary image. She no longer has friends her age, is concerned that her dress is not conservative enough and cannot fathom dating like her schoolmates. He Named Me Malala proudly emphasizes how being a Muslim has influenced her determination. Towards the end of He Named Me Malala, she refuses to answer questions about her suffering so the documentary shows old video footage of Malala before she was shot.
She is so different before and after. For me, the end of He Named Me Malala is the most powerful because it reminded me that she is a kid who has changed-we assume that she is becoming more excellent every day. Indeed if a girl chooses to save the world from misogyny over good grades and fitting in, it is a no brainer choice, but she is still a kid. Beauty is not as important as character. Malala is beautiful inside and out, before and after, but she is changed. Before she seemed fearless and outspoken. After she is more diplomatic, softer spoken, but wounded. She is getting older, but I hope that she feels that she has choices and can just live a life, take a break and not just become a symbol. It was jarring to hear critics come for a child.
He Named Me Malala may mostly seem like an informercial, but what the documentary is trying to sell should be a no brainer. I hope that Malala continues to do good, but not feel constrained to always carry the burden of being a perfect martyr and an eternal child.