Review: Revolution Of Our Times

I might not be an expert on the unfortunate current situation in Hong Kong. But I feel I know enough on a surface level to understand any developments.

So when I heard about this documentary that has had a hard time getting released, I felt compelled to check this out as you could feel the importance in its marketing.

From early on, you can feel that the coverage is pretty unprecedented. It couldn't be anymore frontline if it tried. With the interviews being the people that are literally in the middle of these protests, there is nothing constructed about the content you are seeing. It's pretty tense, shocking and even horrific at times.

There are particular sequences that will stand-out and stay with you for quite some time. Also, the information that is given from the people being interviewed gives you a great amount of detail in the accompanying imagery. It gives you a real idea in the dangers and risk involved as well as the impressive organisation and community spirit the protestors have.

It's around 2hrs 30mins and in terms of film-making, it probably didn't need to be that long given the lack of a complete structure. But given the tricky situation they had making this, you can somewhat let that go. The content is as 'first hand account' as it could get. There is plenty of coverage that you would have never seen on the news. The interviews were incredibly insightful and show the fight is still going and they we will not stop until their task is done.

Out of the other documentaries about this subject, this is clearly the most thorough. The content cannot be matched and some of the imagery is incredibly heart-breaking and inhuman at times. This is a film that will be hard to forget and should be a vital component in education.

The screening I was at had the majority of the crowd chant what the protestors have been chanting as the credits rolled. It made for a pretty special viewing experience and it certainly makes you feel extremely lucky to be in a part of the world with democracy and free speech.

Rating: 8/10