New Showbiz

You are here:
Human Flow

Human Flow

2017

PG-13

Director

Ai Weiwei

Runtime

140 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

More than 65 million people around the world have been forced from their homes to escape famine, climate change and war, the greatest displacement since World War II. Filmmaker Ai Weiwei examines the staggering scale of the refugee crisis and its profoundly personal human impact. Over the course of one year in 23 countries, Weiwei follows a chain of urgent human stories that stretch across the globe, including Afghanistan, France, Greece, Germany and Iraq.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.9/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film prioritizes the macro-scale of the global refugee crisis over individual identity-driven narratives. It lacks prominent LGBTQ+ storylines or non-cisnormative identities as central plot points.

Gender Representation

Good

The narrative disrupts traditional hierarchies by centering the lived experiences of women. It highlights their specific vulnerabilities and active roles in navigating survival within transit camps and border zones.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The film achieves exceptional diversity by centering a non-Western, multi-ethnic majority. It prioritizes the agency and humanity of people from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film critiques Western institutions and national sovereignty, framing borders as exclusionary. Religious practices are depicted with cultural nuance, serving as a component of identity.

Disability Representation

Fair

The footage captures the physical and psychological toll of displacement, including trauma and exhaustion. However, it avoids using disability as a specific narrative device.

Strengths

  • Exceptional centering of non-Western, multi-ethnic populations from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
  • Effective critique of Western institutional authority and the exclusionary nature of national borders.
  • Nuanced depiction of religious practices as integral components of identity.
  • Disrupts gender hierarchies by highlighting women's active roles in navigating survival.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ storylines or prominent non-cisnormative gender identities.
  • Disability is treated as a byproduct of trauma rather than a specific narrative focus.
  • The macro-scale observational style can overlook individual identity-driven narratives.

AI Analysis

Ai Weiwei’s documentary is a sweeping examination of the global refugee crisis, moving across 23 countries to document the movement of millions. The film excels at centering non-Western voices, providing a profound look at the intersectional realities of race and nationality. By focusing on the collective experience of displaced populations, the film successfully deconstructs Western-centric storytelling and critiques the exclusionary nature of national borders. It replaces traditional hero arcs with a complex, systemic view of human movement. While the film is a masterclass in racial and cultural representation, it lacks specific focus on LGBTQ+ identities and uses disability only as a byproduct of systemic suffering rather than a primary narrative lens.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.