HUMAN FLOW

UK, China, 2017, 140 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Ai Wei Wei.

Aie Wei Wei is a notable Chinese artist with exhibitions all around the world. He is also had his difficulties with the Chinese authorities and has left China, now a citizen of the world. He has had films made about his art. He is also directed a film himself. He returns now to direction, not for a film about art, but for about human rights, refugees and suffering.

He and his crew visited a number of countries around the world in 2015, 2016, photographing the refugees from a wide range of countries, photographing the groups, photographing individuals. At times the artist himself is seen in various situations, sharing the experience, interviewing some of the refugees. This personalises his concern. But the appeal is made to consciences and consciousness of the audience, to empathise with the refugees, what the conditions were at home, what they have escaped from, the hardships of their journey. And, as always, there are the hardships in dealing with the authorities, government and police border patrols from the country’s where they are seeking some kind of refuge. And then there are, so often, the fences.

The film was made in European countries, Kenya, Mexico and the United States, me and Mark in Bangladesh. (There is nothing about refugees in Australia or Manus Island or Nauru – Australian audiences can draw their own conclusions.)

The photography is often very striking, the audience being taken to such varieties of countries, being asked to imagine the lives of the refugees, their past, their escapes, the hardships of the journey is, hard hearts against them, sympathetic hearts for them.

The artist includes some quotations from problems as well as a series of running headlines at the bottom of the screen reminding people of dates and places, UN resolutions, government stances against the refugees.

The following is a list of the countries where the film was made: The range of countries visited, the situations, the refugees themselves, the hardships, the repercussions, welcoming countries, hostile countries?

• Iraq, the background of the American-led invasion of 2003, later developments. ISIS, the taking of Mosul, the siege, the destruction of the streets and houses, the people, the re-taking of Mosul. Iraq and the thousands of refugees from Syria, the camps.

• Bangladesh, the Rohingya, the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. The leader and his explanations and regrets.

• Lesbos, the landing of the refugees from Syria, the numbers, their being welcomed, the camps, their journey through northern Greece, at the Macedonian border, the railway. The further walls from various countries of the Balkans? And Hungary?

• Refugees in Germany, the transformation of Templehof airport into accommodation, the interiors, safety, but the boredom for the children and the adults.

• Paris, the temporary shelters. The Jungle in Calais, the numbers of people, British Border Protection, jumping trucks and their being found out.

• The transition to Kenya, the enormous camp, the refugees from surrounding countries.

• Pakistan, taking of refugees from Afghanistan, for many decades. Returning the Afghan Nationals to their home country. The huge transport trucks. Their being accepted – not able to return to their home towns and villages. Living in the cities.

• Lebanon, the Palestinian refugees, the numbers - the Druze leader and his commentary.

• Jordan, the taking of the vast numbers of refugees from Syria, the Princess and her interview. The camps, and the number of refugees in proportion to the whole population.

• The Mediterranean, the Africans coming by boat, their treatment in Libya, the Italian rescue and landing in Italy.

1. The impact of the film? The vast number of refugees in the early 21st century? The range of countries being fled? Refuge countries? Legislation, attitudes?

2. The interviews with United Nations representatives, from groups representing refugees? The pessimism? Human rights, negotiations with governments?

3. The director, his work as an artist, his making films? The Chinese background? Difficulties in China? An international figure? His interest in the refugees? His being glimpsed throughout the film? His presence in various episodes, with the children, with the border patrol between US and Mexico? His perspective?

4. The headlines from various papers running at the bottom of the screen throughout the film? Questions, political comment? Criticisms and judgement?

5. The quotations from the poets? Imaginative application?

6. The range of countries visited, the situations, the refugees themselves, the hardships, the repercussions, welcoming countries, hostile countries?

• Iraq, the background of the American-led invasion of 2003, the consequences? Later developments? ISIS, the taking of Mosul, the siege, the destruction of the streets and houses, the people, the re-taking of muscle? Iraq and the thousands of refugees from Syria, the camps and treatment?

• Bangladesh, the Rohingya, the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar? The leader and his explanations and regrets?

• Lesbos, the landing of the refugees from Syria, the numbers, their being welcomed, the camps, their journey through northern Greece, at the Macedonian border, the railway, the hardships? The further walls from various countries of the Balkans? And Hungary?

• Refugees in Germany, the transformation of Templehof airport into accommodation, the interiors, safety, but the boredom for the children and the adults? What future?

• Paris, the temporary shelters? The Jungle in Calais, the numbers of people, British Border Protection, jumping trucks and their being found out?

• The transition to Kenya, the enormous camp, the refugees from surrounding countries?

• Pakistan, taking of refugees from Afghanistan, for many decades? Returning the Afghan Nationals to their home country? The huge transport trucks? Their being accepted – not able to return to their home towns and villages? In the cities?

• Lebanon, the Palestinian refugees, the numbers? The Druze leader and his commentary?

• Jordan, the taking of the vast numbers of refugees from Syria, the Princess and her interview? The camps, a number of refugees in proportion to the whole population?

• The Mediterranean, the Africans coming by boat, their treatment in Libya, the Italian rescue? Landing in Italy?