EXCLUSIVE: Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law has got a bounty on his head. Hong Kong authorities, under the thumb of China, consider him a fugitive from justice for helping lead the Umbrella Movement that dared to assert the people’s right to political freedoms.
His story is told in the documentary Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?, directed by Joe Piscatella, opening theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on September 20. It begins streaming on September 23 at pbs.org/pov. We have your first look at the film in the trailer above.
“Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? follows the shy college freshman, Nathan Law, as he discovers an identity in activism,” notes a description of the film. “As one of the organizers of a student strike demanding that Hong Kong be allowed to elect their own leader (something promised to them back in 1998), he leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes The Umbrella Revolution, he is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and captures the attention of the world.”
‘Who’s Afraid Of Nathan Law?’
PBS/POV
The synopsis continues, “When the movement falters, Nathan is arrested and charged for his role in the Revolution, but his entire generation in Hong Kong has been now awoken. Riding the enthusiasm of the student movement he helped spark, he makes the impossible transition from protest leader to elected official, becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong’s history where he continues his fight for democracy from inside the government.”
In a statement, Piscatella said, “I was blown away by this incredible movement revolving around these extraordinary young people who had transformed from average teenagers to political leaders fighting for democracy. We knew we had to amplify this story to the rest of the world so that everyone would know what is going on, and hopefully inspire others to stand up for democracy. It has been an honor to have Nathan on the project so we can learn from his bravery and determination.”
A year after his election to office in Hong Kong, authorities disqualified Law from serving in the legislature. He was later arrested and jailed for months. When China asserted even greater control over Hong Kong with the passage of a draconian national security law in 2020, the young activist went into voluntary exile abroad.
Nathan Law
Till Rimmele/Getty Images
“I am grateful for Joe and the team to have captured this story in such a stunning and intellectual way,” Law said in a statement. “As a political refugee living in the UK, I want people everywhere to understand that democracy is fragile and needs to be protected at all costs. With the world quickly changing at the moment, I also want people to be inspired to take action to make the world a better place than how we left it and give voice to democracy.”
Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is directed, written and produced by Joe Piscatella. The film is produced by Matthew Torne, Mark Rinehart, and Andrew Duncan; Elizabeth H. Weatherman serves as executive producer. The film is edited by Matthew Sultan, with original music by Christopher H. Knight.
The filmmakers note the Hong Kong crew that was used throughout all filming in Hong Kong had to remain anonymous “in order to protect their safety and the safety of their families. This crew included the DPs, gaffers, PAs and sound team. Some crew members gave only their first names and insisted on being paid in cash so there was no record of their involvement.”
The film premiered in 2023 at Hot Docs in Toronto where it became one of the festival’s top audience favorites. It opens at DCTV Firehouse in New York and the Laemmle Monica Film Center in the Los Angeles area on September 20. Director Joe Piscatella and film participant Nathan Law are expected to appear in person at select Q&A screenings on opening weekend in both cities.
Watch the trailer for Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? above.