Who's Afraid of Nathan Law? (2023)

Nathan Law is an advocate of democracy and has spent years fighting for change and for justice in Hong Kong. He wants the people to have rights, to be able to run the country themselves and elect their leaders–and he’s doing everything in his power to shed light on the injustices that have plagued his home. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? tells Nathan’s story as he fights for what’s right–and while the repercussions of his actions may potentially be astronomical, he refuses to yield.

People always say when opening a business: “location, location, location.” Of course that’s true–but that’s true of Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? as well. For most of the interviews it’s made clear that the interviewees are cut off from the rest of the world–that the subjects’ locations are hidden and that their freedoms are being questioned in the moments that they are addressing the camera. Having them isolated only strengthens the narrative present in the film, and it effectively reaches out and grabs a hold of viewers.

I’m not sure that Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? could have come out at a better time. Protests have played a pivotal role in the United States in the past few years–but it’s been just long enough (I think) that people are starting to forget what has happened. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? reignites a fire in the memory of these events–and it’s terrifying. It does initially remind viewers of the freedoms that they are afforded while living in the United States, but it just as quickly expresses the fragility of all that we have come to take for granted. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is a harrowing documentary that will likely hit home for viewers around the world (because even though it’s focused on one series of protests, it brilliantly mirrors the things that we’ve seen take place around the world). With the timing Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is hard hitting and relevant–and it makes sure that every second counts.

A score can make or break a film–and the score present in Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? most certainly does the former. I’m not sure that the score ever relents, ever takes a break throughout the course of the film, and it makes every (already intense) moment even more powerful. The story progresses and the score travels right alongside it, bolstering all that Writer-Director Joe Piscatella is trying to convey; but even better, it helps to strengthen the actions and the words of Nathan and his cohorts as well.

Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is a political documentary–there’s no doubt about that. So many political documentaries have come before, some that have found great success and others that fail to hit the mark. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is one of the more intriguing political documentaries that I’ve even seen. Every piece of this puzzle is brilliantly calculated, and every decision that Piscatella and his team makes pays off in the end. They allow viewers to truly understand all that is occurring throughout the course of the film, to really appreciate the struggles that Nathan and the other activists experienced throughout their journey. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? is an immersive experience, one that is sure to reach viewers and shed some light on the insanity that has ensued in Hong Kong for years.

Written & Directed by Joe Piscatella.

Starring Nathan Law, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10