With that powerful line, Davis Guggenheim begins his documentary He Named Me Malala. Released on Oct. 2, it tells the life story of perhaps the most famous and inspirational teenager in the world. Malala Yousafzai, born the northeastern part Pakistan called Swat Valley, became an international household name after resisting the Taliban’s ban on girl’s education and surviving a bullet to the head. Her boldness, however, was almost predestined - her activist father named her after another famous female fighter, Malalai, who died leading Afghan troops to victory during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. From birth, Malala’s name branded her as a warrior and a hero - but not on the battlefield. Instead, He Named Me Malala chronicles her life as an activist for girls’ education.The movie, rated 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, received praise for its portrayal of Malala’s epic and, at times, terrifying story. Everyone – from ordinary people to movie critics to celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres – engaged in various forms of commentary. “The film is worthy, obviously, and it forces us to think about the prices paid by our unexpected heroes,” writes critic Ty Burr. However, though the movie shows an interesting dichotomy between Malala’s conflicting roles as an ordinary teenager and the youngest-ever Noble Prize winner, it fails to unify them. In the end, it seems that the movie portrays two different versions of Malala: an average teenage girl and a confident international figure.Malala’s inspirational speeches and acts of charity are contrasted with her life at home, showcasing the difficulties she bravely faces. Although she struggles in the British school system, she still has the time to open a school for Syrian refugees on her eighteenth birthday. It is something of a guilt trip for more privileged students—if Malala can struggle in a new culture, with so much more responsibility, and still win the respect and love of the international community, then anyone can. Guggenheim’s documentary portrays these difficulties and inspirational moments well, although the portrayal of Malala’s life is broken up by animated flashbacks that somewhat detract from the central message.Despite displaying some cinematic flaws, Guggenheim’s film portrayal of Malala is still incredibly powerful and heart wrenching. In one scene, Malala’s powerful belief in forgiveness hits home. “In all this time,” asks Guggenheim, “have you ever been angry?” Malala, calm and composed, answers: “No… Not even as small as an atom… Never.” It is in powerful moments like these that the true meaning of the documentary shines through—an inspirational and moving portrait of a girl who has already changed the world. In Malala’s words, “My father only gave me the name Malalai. He didn’t make me Malalai.” No, the decision to fight for girls everywhere was Malala’s own: “I chose this life, and now I must continue it.”Malala has fought for, and deservedly won, one educational achievement after another. In the years following her attack, she won awards for global activism and peacemaking, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament and the Nobel Prize alongside Indian children's rights activistKailash Satyarthi. Although her extraordinary successes make her life seem impossible to emulate, He Named Me Malala emphasizes that everyone can stand up for what they believe in just the same. To Malala, the story of her extraordinary success is quite simple: “There is a moment when you have to choose whether to be silent or to stand up.” All you have to do is choose to stand up. Watch the trailer for He Named Me Malala here. This article was written by Savannah Billman. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Southbank Centre