The film begins when Michael Franti, his guitar, a group of his friends and some video cameras fly into Iraq. When the plane was nearing Baghdad the flight attendant made an announcement, he said something like “their may be a small discomfort to your ears during landing, due to rapid descent of the airplane in effort to avoid any missile or gunfire that may be shot at the plane. I’m sure that you will agree with me, that the discomfort is worth the benefits.” That was the moment when they seemed to realize just how danger that their trip could bring.
Michael Franti is the main character of the 2005 documentary I Know am Not Alone. Michael is a world-renowned musician and human rights activist. Michael was fed up by how the news only shows the political and economic cost of the war, so in his film he shows the human cost of the war. The movie shows people living in occupied territory and the affect that the war is having on them. He makes a very good attempt with the film to help people around the world understand the perspectives of the Palestinian and the Israeli people. Michael meets many different kinds of people that all have different perspectives about many things but they all have something in common; that is that they want change, they want to live their lives in peace.
Michael is a very good musician, he is a part of Spearhead; a rock/reggae group. He writes about poverty, politics, revolution, or whatever he feels strongly about. He has a knack of making such significant things sound so lyrical, but yet they are still so moving. There is such a love in his music. The takes his guitar around with and he is always singing to the children and the people on the streets. Michael also has a talent of ‘charming’ those around him which comes quite useful during his trip. He was even brave enough to have a little debate with the coalition forces, but the soldiers got a little annoyed when he continuously strummed his guitar as he was talking with them.
Michael Franti is making a difference in the world by expressing himself through his music. He traveled to war stricken countries putting his life in danger. Once, in the movie it shows him caught in the middle of gun fire. He feels so passionately about this that he is willing to risk his life for it. Not many people, not even in the military would be willing to do this.
This documentary, I Know Am Not Alone, is very moving and inspirational. This film makes one wonder why we’re fighting. Is there a possible way to achieve peace? The movie is very thought provoking and I would highly recommend it for all to see.
