Malala documentary premiered at London Festival

This Dec. 17, 2013 photo provided by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows, Malala Yousafzai in Birmingham, England. Yousafzai is the subject of the documentary film, “He Named Me Malala.” (Caroline Furneaux/Fox Searchlight Pictures via AP)

A documentary about the youngest-ever Nobel Peace laureate Malala had its European premiere this week at the London Film Festival.

“He named me Malala” is an intimate portrait of Malala Yousafzai.

Humbled by Malala’s aspirations and efforts, American actress Meryl Streep hailed her as the worthy heiress of the suffragettes who battled for the right to vote in Britain in the early 20th century.

The documentary by Davis Guggenheim, which was filmed over 18 months in Britain, Kenya, Nigeria, Abu Dhabi and Jordan, recalls how Malala’s father chose her name in honor of Malalai of Maiwand, a heroine who rallied the Pashtun army against British troops in 1880.

“When I was little, many people would say, `Change Malala’s name. It’s a bad name, it means sad.’ But my father would always say, ‘No, it has another meaning. Bravery,’” Malala said.

The film shows her in her home, follows her at school, in the streets of New York, at a refugee camp, spreading her optimistic and determined message on the right to education.

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world,” she proclaimed.

Guggenheim turns to animations to recreate Malala’s life in Swat valley before the attempted assassination by Taliban in October 2012.

The film also shows the months of hospitalization and re-education of the girl who wants to become prime minister of Pakistan, as well as her close relationship to her father.

Amid all the extraordinary events and journey that defined Malala’s image in the world, Malala is just a normal teenager: she looks at photos of Brad Pitt, speaks of her favorite book, “the Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, and shares her passion for cricket.

“He named me Malala” is set to release in Britain on November 6.

In this Dec. 17, 2013 photo released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, director Davis Guggenheim appears in Birmingham, England with Malala Yousafzai, and Ziauddinuddin Yousafzai during the filming of the documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” released in U.S. theaters on Friday. (Caroline Furneaux/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation via AP)

In this Dec. 17, 2013 photo released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Malala Yousafzai, left, speaks with director Davis Guggenheim in Birmingham, England during the filming of the documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” released in U.S. theaters on Friday. (Caroline Furneaux/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation via AP)