Premieres Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app
POV spotlights courage, resilience, and youthful idealism, in "Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?." At 21, Nathan Law was a leader of Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution. By 23, he became Hong Kong's youngest elected lawmaker. At 26, he was “Most Wanted” under the National Security Law.
In "Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?" shy college freshman, Nathan Law, discovers an identity in activism. 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), Nathan leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes the Umbrella Revolution, Nathan is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and captures the attention of the world.
When the movement falters, Nathan is charged for his role in the Umbrella Revolution, and his entire generation in Hong Kong has been awoken. Riding the enthusiasm of the student movement he helped spark, Nathan 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.
Fearful of Nathan’s message gaining traction beyond students, the government disqualifies Nathan on a technicality and sends him to jail. As Hong Kong continues to see the erosion of its freedom, a new movement is launched. Whereas the Umbrella Revolution was driven by hope, this new movement is driven by desperation. Nathan’s message of civil disobedience is overshadowed by a new generation of protestors who no longer feel that peaceful demonstrations can save Hong Kong. As Hong Kong descends into the biggest political crisis in modern Chinese history, Nathan must decide his role and his future.
Filmmaker Quote:
"'Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?,' is more than just the story of Hong Kong’s fight for freedom and democracy they’ve been promised,” said Joe Piscatella, director. “It’s the story of how a group of teenagers, led by Nathan Law, are willing to risk everything to save their home. It is also a great example of what it means to fight for democracy and how quickly freedoms can disappear if we don’t safeguard them.”
"Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?," a co-presentation with Preserving Democracy, a public media initiative from The WNET Group, offers a close look at the city's most famous dissident to uncover what happens to freedom when an authoritarian power goes unchecked.
Winner of the “Top 10 Audience Favorite Award” at its World Premiere at the 2023 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
Watch On Your Schedule: "Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?," will make its national broadcast premiere on POV Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 and available to stream until Nov. 22, 2024 at pbs.org, and the PBS app.
In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description serviceDiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.
Credits: Written and directed by Joe Piscatella. The film is produced by Matthew Torne, Mark Rinehart, Joe Piscatella and Andrew Duncan. The editor is Matthew Sultan. The executive producers are Elizabeth H. Weatherman, and Erika Dilday and Chris White for American Documentary | POV. Hong Kong-based DPs, producers and all crew have chosen to remain anonymous to protect their safety. Now in its 37th season, POV continues to mark its place as America’s longest running non-fiction series.
