Revolution of Our Times

Kiwi Chow's 2021 documentary records the 2019 protests in Hong Kong from inside. A proposed extradition bill that would have allowed people to be tried in mainland China set off months of mass demonstrations, and the film follows that period on the street, alongside the protesters. The documentary tracks seven separate groups: those at the front line, medical volunteers, journalists, older supporters. That structure is built to show that the movement was not run from any single centre. The film's own story is part of the record. It screened at Cannes in 2021 after being added to the programme at the last moment; Chow did not attend and stayed in Hong Kong. For his safety he transferred the rights to a distributor in Europe and deleted all the footage he held. Under censorship rules introduced the same year the film cannot be screened in Hong Kong. Who it's for: those interested in Hong Kong's recent political history and in protest documentaries. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a multi-sided account; the documentary stands openly with the protesters and it is long.