Must see: Malala Yousafzai's inspiring tale captured in a new documentary

Published June 19, 2015
Malala in a still from the documentary 'He Named Me Malala.'
Malala in a still from the documentary 'He Named Me Malala.'

Hang on to your hankies: a sneak peek at a documentary on Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai's life is making the rounds, and it's incredibly inspiring.

Watch it here:

The documentary, titled He Named Me Malala, is directed by documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, who was behind An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting for "Superman". The documentary shows us how Malala, her father Zia and her family are committed to fighting for education worldwide after Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban at 14.

"There's a moment when you have to choose whether to be silent or to stand up," says Malala in the documentary, talking of her unwavering commitment to supporting girls' education.

"I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education," says Malala. "I am not a lone voice. I am many. And our voices are our most powerful weapons."

The sneak peek also shows us that the documentary will take us behind the scenes to Malala's lesser-seen family life — we'll get to hear from her brothers, her friends and more. "She's a little bit naughty," says Malala's brother at one point.

Though she usually stays behind the scenes, in this documentary Malala's mother (L) is more visible.
Though she usually stays behind the scenes, in this documentary Malala's mother (L) is more visible.

Later, Malala confesses: "If I had an ordinary father and an ordinary mother, then I would have two children now."

She also admits that she finds coursework in her new school difficult, and that she admires Rodger Federer.

Despite everything, Malala says she misses her home in Pakistan. "I miss the dirty streets, I miss the river, I miss my friends." she says. Of her old family home, she says: "I just want to see that house, just once.

The documentary appears to feature her father prominently. Malala has said that her father has been instrumental in her activism and her struggle to support girls education.

The documentary appears to feature Malala's father prominently.
The documentary appears to feature Malala's father prominently.

Last night Malala appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to talk about the documentary. She previously appeared on The Daily Show in 2013, when she impressed Stewart with her confidence and a lecture on pacifism.

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

According to The Malala Fund on social media, the documentary is set to be released in October.

Opinion

Merging for what?

Merging for what?

The concern is that if the government is thinking of cutting costs through the merger, we might even lose the functionality levels we currently have.

Editorial

Dubai properties
Updated 16 May, 2024

Dubai properties

It is hoped that any investigation that is conducted will be fair and that no wrongdoing will be excused.
In good faith
16 May, 2024

In good faith

THE ‘P’ in PTI might as well stand for perplexing. After a constant yo-yoing around holding talks, the PTI has...
CTDs’ shortcomings
16 May, 2024

CTDs’ shortcomings

WHILE threats from terrorist groups need to be countered on the battlefield through military means, long-term ...
Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...