politic1983 Ai Weiwei isn't just a hilarious name to say to any Englishman but also a name associated with freedom of speech in modern day China. An artist by trade, Mr Weiwei is now more (in)famous for saying 'fuck you' to the Chinese Government than putting any brush strokes to canvas.'Never Sorry' is the documentary from debut director Alison Klayman resulting from her four years following China's most famous artist as he travels around China and the world causing further and further headaches for local police and the Chinese Government. Concentrating as much on political acts than artistic ones, the film shows the importance of Twitter and social media in a country such as China, showing as many of his status updates throughout the film as Richard Herring will commit in a 90 minute period. The balance between politics and art is well maintained throughout, reminding that he has actually done some good works over the years - as well as breaking some old pots - while showing the political motivations in his work through interviews with various peers and colleagues over the last three decades.But saying 'fuck you' and breaking some vase-thing doesn't come without its fair share of problems. Various confrontations with police, sometimes violent, are shown, as well as his non-mysterious disappearance in 2011 and the momentary stem in the flow of his freedom of speech. The documentary is more about freedom of speech than a biopic of an artist, using him as an example of the impact of social networking, as well as what happens when the rules are broken.There are some weak points, such as the mystery around his son with a woman that isn't his wife – a topic that his wife is not questioned on and which he is coy – that is only mentioned and not explored; and his confrontation with police while sticking cameras in their faces probably provokes a response from law enforcement that would be met in most nations in the world. As noted, the fact that someone like Ai Weiwei exists shows that there has been some change in China over the years, though the fact that his words are met with such strong response from the Government shows that there is still a long way to go before China becomes a nation where people can freely express their opinions to the world on Twitter without fear of arrest and prosecution – unless, of course, you're a Premiership footballer.www.politic1983.blogspot.com

evening1 Powerful documentary about a brave and provocative man who travels with a camera crew as they challenge the Chinese government.Ai Wei Wei, seemingly the only man in China who wears a beard, seems an artist of considerable talent. But he directs his greatest energies toward criticizing and questioning a regime that returns the attention with monitoring, harassment, and abuse. Ai has become a lightening rod for controversy since he started asking about a recent earthquake in Sichuan that killed 5,000 children when their schools collapsed.Strangely, this film doesn't mention why Ai would hold the government responsible for a natural disaster. But I have learned elsewhere (see my review of "China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province") that the quake destroyed schools, leaving other buildings intact, arousing suspicion that corruption allowed for shoddy "tofu-like" construction. Ai has rightly asked officialdom why it doesn't investigate the tragedy.The film documents a stunning tribute to the child victims in an art show mounted in Germany that creates a message in Chinese characters from 5,000 multicolored backpacks. Yet the filmmakers never tell us what the characters mean! Additional footage is devoted to a bizarre work installed at London's Tate Modern in which 100 million lacquered sunflower seeds are raked out in a giant frame, for viewers to tread and sit on as they please. This odd work's significance from Ai's perspective isn't explored at all.This film includes much disturbing footage of Chinese police and military personnel harassing Ai, allowing him to build a studio and then tearing it down, and at one point clobbering him on the head in an attack that requires brain surgery. It documents Ai's abortive efforts to file a police report and lawsuit. The Chinese government comes off looking bad as people in the street obviously recognize the artist -- a tireless poster on Twitter -- and seem to encourage his efforts.Ai is a man of few words who speaks in simple terms, yet his statements often resonate. A burly person who is often filmed at table, he patiently answers questions about having fathered a child out of wedlock, a young boy who never says anything on camera and is often seen handing Ai things to eat.Near the end of the film, we learn through titles that Ai disappeared in 2011. The words come as a blow because by the time they appear the viewer has bonded with the activist. As I had taped this film, I rushed to Wikipedia to discover Ai's fate.As the film points out toward its end, Ai was arrested and detained for several months, then finally released with restrictions on his ability to speak to the media and travel abroad. We see startling scenes of a seemingly chastened Ai declining to speak to the press. However, we're told as the film draws to a close that Ai has gone on to resume his Twitter efforts. Phew! (Whether he's allowed to leave the country remains unclear.)This documentary spends some time noting that Ai's fame offers him some amount of protection. But how much, exactly? He's had his head pummeled, his studio demolished, and his freedom seized. One wonders what's next but hopes for the best.This film is best for making the world aware of an intriguing and important public figure. He deserves our attention and protection.

Pamela Powell I'll be honest, I am not a political activist. I am not on top of what's happening in the world or in politics both nationally and internationally. And I have one thing to say about that after seeing this movie. Shame on me! For those of you who don't know him (I didn't until this January), Ai Weiwei is a political artist and activist. He is a sculptor, a painter, a muralist and a lone spokesperson in China who opposes the oppression of his country and the lies that he feels they tell. He dares to speak his truth in what is happening behind the closed doors through his artwork and his words. This movie entranced me from the beginning with its humor and information. It was beautiful and frighteningly ugly to see Ai Weiwei's story. He was followed by a group of documentarians who filmed Ai Weiwei and interviewed those around him, from his mother to his wife, friends, and child. Ai Weiwei was depicted as a bright, articulate, and talented man who wanted to make things better for the next generation as he felt his father's generation failed him. Utilizing his art, Ai Weiwei told horrific stories of what the government has covered up. We continued to watch as Ai Weiwei pushes the governments buttons and the envelope. The government was filmed trying to intervene with Ai Weiwei's attempts to communicate what the government was doing. Internet shutdowns lead to Ai Weiwei utilizing Twitter to communicate each and every step of his drama. Brutality from the government was evident. They wanted him shut down and would do anything. Ai Weiwei's future was at stake, but he will risk everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, in order to ensure that his son will have a better future. No fictional movie could have been written to depict a stronger leader and spokesperson than Ai Weiwei. This was real life. This was a man wanting to change the world. That really puts all the rest of us to shame. We take so much for granted. The Facebook posts I see from "friends" who disagree with Obama and can say so with no fear of death or beating. Ai Weiwei didn't have that luxury. We have freedom. We take it for granted. We are spoiled. Think twice the next time you have an opinion and voice it either to a friend or on-line. There are no repercussions. Ai Weiwei wants the citizens of China to have that same freedom.This documentary was one of the most emotional, educational, yet somehow still entertaining (and sometimes funny!) documentaries I have ever had the honor of seeing. Seek out this movie. It's a limited release, but worth the drive to see it. It will change you and how you view the world. How many movies can do that?

samuelfitlee This documentary covered a serious look in various aspects on the Chinese artist/ activist, Ai Wei Wei. He was quite famous even before his 2008 Beijing Olympic main structure, Bird Nest. The shooting style was rather straight forward. As a documentary, the most important thing is the subject of the documentary. Definitely, Ai Wei Wei was an interesting subject that does not require a lot of enhancement work in other areas. The documentary was very rich with interview like local culture blogger, colleague, friend, wife, son's mother, mother and himself. More importantly, couple events like following up with the assault cases in very tense situation does capture attention because it is real event with some hidden camera. In one of his art, he dropped a two thousand year old Han Dynasty Chinese urn and toke picture of it. At first, people might though he was an insane post-modern artist who was acting weird with his new age behavior art. He also painted over those antique urns with funky bright yellow and blue color. It may be a heartbroken experience for those antique lovers. Later, he explained the city of Beijing was just like those Han's urns. The city was torn down for new development. That was of power of his art which making strong statement and interesting parable. His expression echoed the prophet in the Bible like Prophet Nathan. Prophet Nathan told a story of how a greedy rich man ripping of the poor to King David. King David was very upset of this story. But, Prophet Nathan later pointed out that King David actually was the one who ripped off the poor by taking someone wife and murdered her husband. Both of Ai Wei Wei and Prophet Nathan had the power of using parable to have a sneak behind attack before the defense system was setup.