Film Lens
Vivos is a documentary directed by Ai Weiwei that focuses on the mass kidnapping of students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College in 2014. The film uses meditative photography and intimate interviews to tell the stories of the victims and their families. It addresses the trauma experienced by families and the broader impact on Mexican society and culture due to these unresolved cases.
Ai Weiwei's approach is not centered on investigative journalism but rather on understanding the emotional and social consequences of such tragedies. He seeks to answer how the absence of a family member affects social justice and the nation, providing a platform for the families' voices in the context of an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Why Watch
- •See the impact of the Ayotzinapa tragedy on families.
- •Meet Ai Weiwei and his unique artistic perspective.
- •Find out how parents became activists for justice.
Did You Know
•Vivos premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2020.
•The film runs for 112 minutes and is produced by AWW Germany GmbH.
•Ai Weiwei directed Vivos and produced another film, Cockroach, in 2020.
•The film is in English and Spanish with English subtitles.
Perfect For
Human rights advocatesDocumentary enthusiastsMexican cultural studies