Hooligan Sparrow

The documentary follows the Chinese activist Ye Haiyan, known as Hooligan Sparrow. She and her colleagues travel to Hainan province to protest the case of six primary school girls who were sexually abused by their head teacher. The director Nanfu Wang goes with them and records what happens. The activists are marked as enemies of the state and face constant surveillance, interrogation, harassment and imprisonment. The camera itself comes under threat, and filming becomes one of the subjects of the film. Ye Haiyan was already known for her work for the rights of sex workers. She uses social media as a tool in defending women and girls. The film stands openly with the activists and does not hide it. Nanfu Wang’s eighty four minute documentary, a joint Chinese and American production, was completed in 2016.