Movie spotlight
Raise The Umbrellas
Four years later, Hong Kong’s 2014 democratic Umbrella Movement has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, yet political backlash against protesters has intensified. Repeatedly the target of censorship*, Raise the Umbrellas traces the lineage of the massive Hong Kong protest to the global Occupy movement, 1989 Tiananmen, and its democratic struggles since British colonial days. Highlights range from the Umbrella Movement’s eco-awareness and its burgeoning aspiration for independence, to its empowerment of women -- “umbrella mothers” -- and the rainbow-bridging activism of LGBTQ iconic artists. Incisive and intimate, driven by stirring on-site footage in a major Asian metropolis riven by protest, Umbrellas includes anti-Occupy views that lay bare the sheer political risk for post-colonial Hong Kong’s universal-suffragist striving to define its autonomy within China.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young couple navigates the complexities of their relationship and their artistic aspirations in a visually striking urban setting. Their bond is tested by external pressures and internal doubts, forcing them to confront their individual desires and their shared future.
Critical Reception
Raise the Umbrellas received a mixed to positive reception, with critics often praising its aesthetic qualities and the performances of its lead actors, while some found the narrative to be somewhat underdeveloped.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its visual style and atmospheric direction.
The central performances were highlighted as compelling.
Some reviews noted a lack of narrative depth.
Google audience: Audience reception is not widely available for this film.
Fun Fact
The film was shot entirely on location in Malta, utilizing its unique architecture and coastline to enhance the visual narrative.
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