Ai Weiwei: Without Fear or Favour

This documentary offers an intimate look at Ai Weiwei, a towering figure in modern Chinese art who wears many hats as architect, photographer, curator and blogger. Guided by Alan Yentob, it traces how Weiwei built a career by pushing against official lines and turning personal conviction into public art. The film follows his life and work, showing how he uses design, media and provocative projects to challenge censorship, spark dialogue, and mobilize audiences around political questions. Although the footage was assembled before his 2011 arrest, the portrait implies that Weiwei operates in a climate where creative expression carries real risk and daily decisions can become public acts. Its tone balances admiration with critical distance.

Directed by Matthew Springford and released in 2010, Ai Weiwei Without Fear or Favour assembles interviews, behind the scenes footage and archival material to profile the artist. Alan Yentob guides the narrative, framing Weiwei's life through the lens of his activism. The documentary also notes Weiwei's collaborative approach with other artists.

Box office figures for this documentary are not widely reported, reflecting a broadcast and festival based life rather than a broad cinema release worldwide. It circulated mainly through broadcasts and festival circuits.

As a portrait the film positions Ai Weiwei as a defining voice in contemporary art and political discourse who uses architecture, photography and social media to raise questions about power and accountability. It contributes to public conversations about how art can interrogate authority and mobilize audiences. Its impact lies in framing art as civic action.

Critics have described the film as a clear, thoughtful examination of freedom of expression, responsibility and the personal costs of dissent. It foregrounds Weiwei's insistence that creativity be tethered to civic dialogue, offering viewers a concise map of art as social action under pressure. It also resonates with viewers curious about the intersection of art and politics. A thoughtful introduction for new audiences.