It has been over a year since most people have been able to experience live music in what might be considered a normal context. The act of going to a concert is one that previously allowed you to transcend all of the troubles of the world and enter into another realm of existence for a couple of hours. While we might not be able to make our way back to completely normal anytime soon, the feature documentary debut We Are The Thousand from director Anita Rivaroli evokes the nostalgia of communally experiencing the healing power of music.
You may have seen a video some years back in which one thousand strangers came together to perform a classic Foo Fighters tune in unison in hopes of convincing the band to come play for their unassuming Italian community. You would not be alone, as that video has notched over 55 million views to date. What has not been documented up until this point is the sheer force of will that went into making this moment happen, as well as how this event impacted those who participated. In 2015, Marine biologist and passionate music fan Fabio Zaffagnini had this crazy idea, but no one was truly convinced he would be able to pull it off. In addition to the logistical nightmare of getting everyone in one location and corralled into their respective sections, composed of 250 singers, 150 bass players, 250 drummers and 350 guitarists, the chances of it sounding like anything but a sonic mess were incredibly slim. The film gives brief attention to the behind-the-scenes struggles to make this event a reality from a financial standpoint, but the real focus is on the individuals who were inspired to take part in this epic gathering.
The true beauty of We Are The Thousand is not that people joined together because they wanted to see the Foo Fighters, but for the simple fact that they wanted to be a part of something special. Individuals from all around Italy of different ages, races, genders and backgrounds were inspired to come together to create “one musical identity.” The film features various talking head interviews with those who participated in the event, and you cannot help but be moved upon hearing what each person gained from the experience. You have people who never had the confidence to play in public being roused to change that. There are parents who wanted to have a unique experience with their talented children. There is even someone who wanted to create treasured memory before a medical diagnosis would prevent that from ever happening again. Music is one of the great uniting forces that we have in this world, and its impact on mental health cannot be undervalued.
You know going into the film that there is not a question of whether or not they will be able to pull off this feat, but that does not make how they accomplished it any less impressive. In this time of division, it is heartening to see a group of people come together to achieve a common goal. All it took was one maestro explaining that this was not a time for showboating, and they were able to produce something magical. Those who have seen the YouTube video know how chill-inducing the final product is, but witnessing it in conjunction with all background information had this reviewer tearing up. The inevitable appearance from the Foo Fighters themselves is a cracking bit of fun, but the reunion of The Thousand a year after the initial video with the stakes raised even more ends the film on a transcendent high note. The documentary is quite a breezy venture at just under 80 minutes. There are small obstacles along the way such as inclement weather, but that is not the primary focus of the film. We Are The Thousand is a celebration of the power of music and what can be accomplished when individuals band together. This is the film your heart needs right now.
We Are The Thousand was viewed in the 2020 Spotlight section of SXSW Online 2021.
Director: Anita Rivaroli
Writer: Anita Rivaroli
Rated: NR
Runtime: 79m
Rating: 4 out of 5
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
