'The Encampments' Review: A Bold and Brave Portrait of Protest
- Romey Norton
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - April 7, 2025
Few documentaries capture history as it unfolds quite like The Encampments. Directed with unflinching immediacy, this gripping documentary provides an on-the-ground perspective of the encampment movement that erupted at Columbia University, offering a rare look at the protests through the eyes of the demonstrators themselves. With a particular focus on activist Mahmoud Khalil, The Encampments is more than just a film—it’s a vital document of resistance, a study in the power of collective action, and a stark reminder of the cost of standing up for one's beliefs.
The documentary thrusts viewers directly into the heart of the movement. Through intimate footage and first-hand accounts, the documentary has a raw energy, and viewers can truly see the emotional toll of the encampments as they spread beyond Columbia University, igniting a nationwide conversation around how universities are materially invested in the genocide of Gaza. This is through their relationships (stocks etc.) with companies who provide weapons and more to this war. Caring more about their pocketbook rather than people.
They delve into this by showing which companies the University has ties with and which ones it has severed when it has come to other wars, such as the one with Russia and Ukraine. They break down how a university works and how change happens. And expose worrying truths, such as a trustee of the university is also a trustee of a weapons company. The documentary shows the reaction to protests, all over the US, which is all fairly negative, and explains why they think this is. It’s incredibly interesting and eye-opening and might change your perspective on things.
As well as national protests, audiences follow Mahmoud Khalil on his journey as an activist and as someone personally affected by the political realities the protests confront. When news broke of his detention, this documentary served as a call to action. Because while The Encampments had its planned world premiere at CPH:DOX on March 25, its theatrical release was expedited following Mahmoud Khalil’s detention, underscoring just how timely and impactful the film has become.
Visually, The Encampments is both immediate and immersive. The handheld cinematography places viewers alongside protesters, capturing their chants, debates, and moments of quiet resilience with striking authenticity. There then is structured, sat down interviews, which is more polished and allows for clear storytelling. There is footage from the war, so you get a mix of action from the campus to the battlefields, both past and present day. There is also a harrowing phone call conversation between a young child, aged six, and a police service worker which will just break your heart and remind you of the severity of war.
There’s no glossing over the realities of the movement, showing the complexity, adrenaline, exhaustion and fear that comes with real-world consequences, when it comes to activism. By centering the protesters’ perspectives, it challenges audiences to rethink how they engage with social movements and the people behind them.
The Encampments is a historical document that will serve a purpose for years to come. Urgent, unfiltered, and deeply moving, it challenges audiences to witness activism from the inside rather than the sidelines. Whether or not it breaks records, this documentary has already cemented itself as one of the most essential and defining films of the year.
For more reviews and in-depth coverage of films like The Encampments, visit Film Focus Online. Stay engaged with cinema that sparks dialogue and change.
