'No Control' to 'The Uncondemned': A look at Must-Watch Indie films based on Human Rights

Every year, Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 all around world. On this day, United Nations General Assembly opted and proclaimed  Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in year 1948, which is a text that describes fundamental rights of all human beings that must be respected universally, making it first global enunciation of human rights and also one of major achievements of United Nations. 

On this day, many governmental and non-governmental organisations that are active in human rights sector schedule special events to commemorate day, as many civil and social-cause organisations do. As we celebrate special day, here we have curated a list of must-watch indie films that are based on human rights. 

Indie films based on Human Rights

Beasts of No Nation 

Helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, powerful film showcases thousands of children, as young as eight-years-old, who are used as soldiers in armed conflicts in all countries. It is based on 2005's novel with same title and gives uncompromising glimpses of brutal world of civil conflict, violence, dehumanization, and child abuse. 

No control

Helmed by Jessica Solce, film dresses efficacy of gun laws and debate between personal freedom and public safety in a candid discussion of one of most complex and important issues in American history. 

Sonita 

In film, filmmaker Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami shows a journey of a determined Afghan teenager who overcomes living as a refugee in Iran, where female singers are banned from singing solo. It shows how her family members plan to sell her into marriage to follow her dreams of becoming a rapper. 

Hooligan Sparrow

Penned, directed and produced by Nanfu Wang, Hooligan Sparrow revolves around a Chinese activist Ye Haiyan aka Hooligan Sparrow, as she protests against a school hemaster who sexually abuses young girls, leing both director and Sparrow to become targets of government intimidation. 

Growing Up Coy

Directed by Eric Juhola, Growing Up Coy sensitively essays  struggles of a Coloro family in US, who take on a highly publicized legal battle to fight for ir six-year-old transgender daughter’s rights to use girls’ bathroom.

Crossing

Filmmaker George Kurian tries to essay journey of a group of middle-class Syrian families who are forced into harsh choices in a desperate bid for freedom. It shows m looking for home and hope across a sea and five countries, making it to Europe. 

When Two Worlds Collide

2016's release When Two Worlds Collide is helmed by Maw Orzel, Heidi Brandenburg. It focuses on dramatic standoffs between indigenous Amazonians and Peruvian government's intent on exploiting ir resource-rich ancestral lands.

Uncondemned

Directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel, Uncondemned is a captivating portrayal of a young group of lawyers and activists who fought to have rape recognized as a war crime in a landmark trial in Rwanda, East Africa. 

Image: Instagram/@brunswickwomenschoir/@filmhousegvl