We all see Malala all the time; she is one of the most recognizable faces on TV, in newspapers, magazines and the internet, and yet when you see her face to face, you feel her energy in a completely different way. You see the face of a little girl who had to grow up far too quickly – not out of choice but out of necessity, not after reflection but out of trauma. This was a girl on whom the world has thrust a huge responsibility – and no matter how it is parsed in the media, it is a role that she has had little choice but to accept, and one that is now shaping the whole trajectory of her life.
We met Malala at Emirates Palace Hotel – far away from her new home in London, and farther still from her village in Swat Valley. She walked onto the stage after her father, the director, and the producers. She held her shawl closely around her, and gave the press her signature smile. This was her face to the world, the one that tells them that she had to face death, and will keep on going no matter what. I wondered how she felt inside: would she, at that moment, have preferred to be with her family in England? Or home in Pakistan, instead of a cavernous hall surrounded by strangers? Does she wish she was home doing homework, like a regular kid of her age? Or making bread with her mother? Or maybe snuggled in bed reading a book? It must not be easy to act grown up all the time, to be thrust the role of champion of a cause; and to find yourself an accidental ambassador for global education and empowerment. If she could go back in time, is this the life she would have chosen for herself?
As questions and answers were exchanged with the media, I watched Malala’s eyes flit back and forth. She answered questions, smiled and often looked towards her father for assurance. What I saw was a little girl, with a big shadow. This is what courage looks like. I wished peace for Malala – peace now, peace in ten years, and peace when she’s 60 years old. I can only imagine what it is to be Malala, and to be living the life she is in. I hope one day she can look back at her life and say that it was the life that she wanted.
FILM REVIEW: “HE CALLED ME MALALA”
A poignant documentary about Malala, produced by Image Nation and directed by Davis Guggenheim. The film traces back to Malala’s childhood just before the shooting, all the way to her present day life as champion of women’s rights and education. Director Davis Guggenheim relates the story with obvious sensitivity for the social-political context, and great respect for the personal relationships between Malala and her father. The story captures crucial moments in Malala’s life, from her everyday interaction with her family, to the violent episodes that bring out her courage and transform her into a vocal critic of social injustice. “He Called Me Malala” is a lyrical film, beautifully told, that intertwines new film, archival and news footage, with artistic renderings. The film captures the spirit of Malala: her vulnerabilities, her courage, and her sense of moral outrage. This is a film you should see with your children, young and old, to facilitate discussion and to instill in them the importance of empowerment and education for all.
-Sana Bagersh
