STAY HUMAN: The Power Of A Poet
Barefoot and carrying his guitar case, Michael Franti carries no pretense of being a globe-trotting rockstar. The musician, poet, spoken word artist and all-around good guy, Michael Franti may be well-known for his various musical projects – formerly of the hip-hop inflected band The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and now touring as Michael Franti & Spearhead. The socially conscious singer-songwriter has taken his trademark brand of infusing his work with political and social semantics to a whole new level with this documentary Stay Human.
When the Revolution Comes
Stay Human is wholly Franti’s own film; not only has he written, produced and directed it, but he appears in practically every frame, delivering a sincere sermon that counters the despair that most people might be feeling right now. As we witness the various life-affirming situations that Franti places himself within, the film assures us that there are always people out their doing the right thing – even if the mainstream media doesn’t always want to remind us of that.
In a previous interview, Franti has said “Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood. Music gives us new energy and a stronger sense of purpose”, which pretty much acts as a nice summary for his directorial debut here. Don’t be fooled though, this isn’t a hagiographic profile of the man, but rather a feature-length extension of his own humanitarian messages that have been delivered before through songs and sonnets.
“I want to be standing next to you, when the revolution comes”, Franti sings as the opening credits start off, a sincere lyric which is reflected in the film’s visuals; between his concerts which range from stadiums to public parks, Franti takes the time to meet with his fans, unafraid to get personal with each one and make them understand that each of them matters, a fondness which expands into the documentary’s full form, a series of vignettes profiling humanitarian efforts from different people at all of the international locations he visits whilst touring with Spearhead.
The Power Of Song
The people he meets – and the work they do – will immediately restore your faith in humanity, whether it’s Robin Lim, a humble midwife who opened a birthing clinic in the Philippines in the wake of a massive typhoon, Steve and Hope Dezember’s struggles with Steve’s ALS diagnosis or even Sive Mazinyo and Busisiwwe Vazi’s endeavours to teach the citizens of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, through a mixture of traditional school education and music, a field that is obviously of particular interest to Franti.
These vignettes are inter-sped by live musical performances from every location, with Franti successfully showcasing himself as a man who is not merely preaching an empty promise of positivity, he IS the message, an embodiment of somebody using their enlightened artistic means and size able stardom to try and benefit humanity in any little way he can – a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step as they say, which is fitting giving the opening of this documentary.
As much as Franti continues to keep his glass half full, he isn’t afraid to shine the spotlight on the more miserable realities of life, creating the contrast of our greatest triumphs stemming from our darkest moments. He leaves these painful reflections with equal time shared with the brighter side of each situation, matching his subjects stories with his own considerable charm and ability to actively listen to everyone he meets.
Stay Human: Conclusion
Michael Franti’s Stay Human is all about one simple but essential message: the only way to challenge cynicism is through hope and humanity, not through continued perpetuation of misanthropy. As the title of the documentary tells us, in times of despair, when it seems like the world is a weird, unrecognisable place filled with hopelessness and cruelty, it’s important to stay human. It may sound cheesy to some, unhelpful to others, but it’s a message at least worth considering, because for some people, as Franti shows us throughout his inspiring documentary, it’s one of pure positivity – and something worth recommending to everybody right now.
Are you a fan of Michael Franti’s work? Let us know in the comments below!
Stay Human will be released in US theaters on February 14, 2018. For all international release dates, see here.
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