Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2013

He designed the “Bird’s Nest” stadium and then denounced the Olympics as propaganda. When scrutinized by the Communist Party, he wryly turned his life into a production. This plucky, charismatic, ursine man with his deadpan, caustic sense of humor is China’s best known and the Party’s least favorite artist/dissident. His art is messing with the bureaucratic mindset. If this fine documentary by Alison Klayman has an unfinished feel, it’s because the recently arrested Ai’s life is a work in progress. Let’s hope there will be a sequel. Note: Half in Mandarin, but urgent and inspiring enough to see anyway. Japanese title: Ai Weiwei: Ayamaranai. (91 min)