Gripping and thrilling, Nanfu Wang's debut documentary is a raw look at women's-rights activism in China. The film focuses on Ye Haiyan, also known as the Hooligan Sparrow, an outspoken activist who once worked in a brothel for free to shine light on the conditions of those in the sex industry. She leads a protest against the alleged sexual abuse of children in schools in Hainan province, but in highlighting the injustice, Ye in turn is harassed and threatened for speaking out. Armed mostly only with a DSLR, Wang's at times shaky camera captures the intensity of their police confrontations. Yet even when rendered homeless and threatened, what's impressive is Sparrow's resilience and commitment to the cause – both in terms of Ye, and Wang's film itself.