‘Do Not Split’ is a powerful doc

Posted on April 23, 2021

By MARK VIOLA

My plan last weekend was to watch an Oscar-nominated film, and I ultimately did, although not one of the Best Picture nominees. Instead, I watched the 35-minute “Do Not Split,” nominated for Best Documentary Short.

The film, which documents the protests that overtook Hong Kong in mid 2019 and continued until the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, has made quite a bit of news lately after it was reported that China will not air this weekend’s Academy Awards live due, at least in part, to this film’s nomination.

Filmed amongst the protestors and featuring a variety of interviews, sometimes right as tear-gas canisters begin falling around them, is a horrifying look at what is happening in the former British colony and what is likely in store for its people.

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.