Film Review: ‘Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry’ Stands as One of 2012’s Most Important Films

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CHICAGO – Every person who was mystified by the meaning of the “Free Ai Weiwei” shirts and petitions that in were vogue last year owe it to themselves to see Alison Klayman’s excellent documentary. Moviegoers will be hard-pressed to find a more riveting and vital film in theaters this year. It may not have a satisfying ending, but that’s because its real-life tale has (thankfully) yet to reach a conclusion.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

For 81 days, China’s most celebrated and controversial artist, Ai Weiwei, was held captive in police custody, where he endured psychological torture before reportedly agreeing to tax evasion charges, which he later contested. Klayman’s footage makes an overwhelmingly convincing argument that the artist’s arrest and subsequent fines are politically motivated and designed to punish him for his potent criticisms of the Chinese government.

Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” in our reviews section.

After he was granted bail in 2011, Ai Weiwei appeared visibly shaken by the incarceration and admitted to reporters that he was forbidden to give interviews or leave the country. This latest attempt at silencing the proudly vocal artist appears to have succeeded, at least for the time being, but the Chinese government has little hope of changing Ai Weiwei’s international status as a muckraking hero. He was a close runner-up for Time Magazine’s Person of 2011, and received impassioned support from various politicians abroad, including Hillary Clinton. It’s impossible to look at Ai Weiwei’s story and not be reminded of the heroic Chinese writer and activist Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize soon after receiving an 11-year prison sentence for “inciting subversion of state power.” Once public figures become this highly regarded, their influence transcends the boundaries of a governmental gag order. Klayman’s film functions not only as a superb night at the movies, but as an invaluable teaching tool for people unfamiliar with its immensely vital human subject. In interviews, Klayman has echoed the exuberantly humanistic spirit of Ai Weiwei, and recently told The Wrap that she wouldn’t mind if her film was pirated in order for its message to spread outside the walls of urban art houses. As a Beijing journalist, Klayman and her crew captured a richly textured portrait of the complicated man behind the larger-than-life persona. He’s more than just an artist or an activist, he’s a force of nature.

Continue reading for Matt Fagerholm’s full “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” review.

Ai Weiwei in Alison Klayman’s Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.
Photo credit: Never Sorry LLC/A Sundance Selects Release