He Named Me Malala - B+

Rated PG-13, 87 minutes

The powerful, uplifting new documentary tells the story of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for her challenging work promoting equal rights in her native country. Directed and written by Davis Guggenheim, who directed such notable documentaries as the Oscar-winning "An Inconvenient Truth" and "Waiting for Superman," "He Named Me Malala" is a moving, intimate portrait of one of our century's most unlikely activists and civil rights leaders.  The film documents Yousafzai's story, who was wounded when Taliban gunmen opened fire on her and her friends' school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old teenager, who had been targeted for speaking out on behalf of girls' education in her region of Swat Valley in Pakistan, was shot in the head, sparking international media outrage. An educational activist in Pakistan, Yousafzai has since emerged as a leading campaigner for the rights of children worldwide, which helped her win the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest recipient of the award ever. Most of us are still trying to make our way by the age of 17, yet for Malala Yousafzai, she has been shot at and nearly killed by the Taliban, has traveled the war over speaking out for equal rights for women and children and won the Nobel Peace Prize, and we can only imagine what will be ahead of her for this bright young girl from Pakistan, who now lives in England because of the significant dangers of living in her own country. "He Named Me Malala" goes into fascinating detail telling Malala's story through interviews, photographs and animated images, though the most telling part of Guggenheim's documentary is when he lets Malala be the normal girl, perusing the internet looking at pictures of Brad Pitt or teasing her younger brothers; it strikes the dichotomy between international, award-winning civil rights leader and a your average, whip-smart teenage girl who simply wants equal rights for all. Guggenheim's documentary tends to skim the surface on a few details of Malala's family life, particularly her mother, who tends to be camera shy, as well as the mixed reactions to her from her native country, which would be unsurprising with its very traditional, old-school society. Still, the award-worthy, satisfying documentary "He Named Me Malala" is an inspirational tale of courage and standing up to speak out for what is right, even if it may promote significant societal and cultural change, and it's a must see especially for teenagers and other young folks who feel they may not have a voice.