Sole Survivor

Sole Survivor is a riveting 2013 documentary directed by Ky Dickens; it focuses on the lives of four individuals who carry a unique and heartbreaking burden: Each of them is the solitary survivor of a large-scale plane crash. The movie stars Bahia Bakari, Cecelia Cichan, George Lamson Jr., and Jim Polehinke as they journey through the aftermath of their respective tragedies and explore what it means to examine your own survival amidst widespread destruction.

The film begins with Cecelia Cichan who, at just four years of age, survived the 1987 Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash, which claimed the lives of 154 passengers, including her own family. Cichan's story is interwoven with that of Bahia Bakari, a woman who incredibly survived a plane crash in the Indian Ocean in 2009. Against all odds, Bahia held on to a piece of wreckage for hours until she was finally rescued. As she retells her story of survival, Bakari grapples with the immense guilt that stems from being the only survivor in an accident that claimed the lives of 152 other people, including her mother.

George Lamson Jr.'s story adds another layer of depth to Sole Survivor. Lamson was only 17 years old when he survived the Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crash that killed his father and 69 others in 1985. The movie presents him as a man constantly battling against feelings of guilt and attempting to reconcile his existence with the catastrophic event that he survived.

The final pillar of the narrative is Jim Polehinke. Polehinke is the sole survivor but also the co-pilot of Comair Flight 5191, which crashed in 2006, killing 49 of the 50 people on board. Unlike the other survivors, Jim cannot remember the crash due to the severe injuries he sustained. Now disabled, he attempts to piece together his memories while questioning the responsibility he may have had in the tragedy.

Dickens uses the unique stories of these four individuals as a springboard to delve deeper into the rarely explored consequences of being a sole survivor. In the aftermath of the catastrophes they faced, the pain and trauma extend beyond simple physical injuries. Psychologically, they grapple with survivor guilt, post-traumatic stress, and the overwhelming weight of public scrutiny.

Sole Survivor also investigates the estrangement and disconnect that these survivors feel. On the one hand, each of these individuals should be thankful for their second chance at life; on the other, they must wrestle with why they were spared when so many others perished. These survivors also outlive the trauma under the piercing gaze of the public eye, and each media intrusion only adds to their isolation.

These survived horror are juxtaposed against compelling narratives of hope and resilience. Each survivor, in their way, seeks to find meaning and purpose in their survival—they look for ways to honor those who didn't make it and create a legacy worthy of the second chance they were given.

Beyond the personal stories, Sole Survivor explores the way air tragedy investigations are conducted and how crash findings, lawsuits, media coverage, and the burden of guilt can affect the survivors. It offers rare insights into the workings of the airline industry, the safety measures in place, and the roles of air traffic controllers and pilots.

With Sole Survivor, Ky Dickens has managed to construct a heartfelt portrait of survival, taking the audience on a deeply personal journey into the lives of individuals who have faced unimaginable tragedies. It's a profound exploration of surviving disaster and the long, arduous journey back from the precipice of despair to hope and healing. The striking candor displayed by the survivors on-screen is commendable, and their journey is both heart-wrenching and incredibly inspirational.

Overall, Sole Survivor is a poignant documentary that delves into the aftershocks of survival following catastrophic accidents. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in real-life stories of resilience, endurance, and the human spirit's indomitable will to continue amid overwhelming grief and guilt.