Watch Hooligan Sparrow

Hooligan Sparrow is a gripping documentary that follows the story of Chinese activist and feminist Ye Haiyan, also known as Hooligan Sparrow, as she fights for justice and the rights of marginalized women in China. The film was directed by Nanfu Wang, who also appears on screen as a part of the story. The movie starts with Ye Haiyan, who is a single mother and sex-worker turned activist, organizing a protest against the sexual exploitation of schoolgirls by a provincial government official in Hainan province. The protest gains national attention, and Ye becomes a target of harassment and intimidation by the authorities. She and other activists receive death threats, and the authorities use all means at their disposal to stop the protests, including assaulting them and destroying their equipment.

The film captures Ye's daily life, her struggles with her activism, and her constant fear for her safety and that of her family. The filmmakers go undercover to document the government's attempts to silence her, which involves following her, hacking her accounts and phone, and detaining her. The film also highlights other feminist and human rights activists, including Wang Jianfen, who runs a shelter for abused women.

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Ye Haiyan will not back down from her mission to expose the abuse of young girls and that her fight for justice is far from over. Along with other activists, she travels to different parts of China to document and expose human rights violations, including forced abortions and sterilizations. They also work to provide support to the victims and amplify their voices.

One of the most poignant moments in the film is when Ye and her colleagues are detained and beaten by the authorities. The film shows the brutality of the Chinese state's response to dissent and the extent to which they will go to silence voices of opposition.

The film not only exposes the ongoing battle for human rights in China but also raises larger questions about the role of activism, the limits of expression, and the power dynamics between citizens and the state. The documentary is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and the price that activists often pay for their bravery.

In many ways, Hooligan Sparrow is a tribute to the fearless work of activists like Ye Haiyan, who risks everything to expose the truth and bring about change. The film's subject matter is heavy, but the storytelling is such that the audience cannot help but be drawn in, emotionally involved in the lives of the activists and the people they fight for.

Overall, Hooligan Sparrow is a compelling documentary that provides a glimpse into the struggles of human rights and feminist activists in China. The film is a testament to the bravery of those who speak out against injustice and the importance of documenting their work. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in human rights, activism, and the fight for justice.

Hooligan Sparrow is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 78.