You probably remember seeing the video when it first went viral: hundreds of musicians playing in unison. Rows and rows of drummers, bassists, guitarists and vocalists all playing Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters.
The whole thing was a stunt, masterminded by an Italian rocker who wanted to convince Dave Grohl and his band to come to the smallish village of Cesena, Italy to play a concert.
We see the musicians in an open field, but how did they get there? Who told them where to go? How do you wrangle that many rockers and get them all on the same page, playing at the same time?
Director Anita Rivaroli’s doc WE ARE THE THOUSAND answers those questions while endearing us to a rag tag group of dreamers who confronted every kind of obstacle to pull it off.
It’s not a spoiler, especially by this time, to say that Grohl did, indeed end up seeing the video, along with millions of YouTube clickers around the world – and, Foo Fighters did play a concert in Cesena. Grohl’s appearance is brief and, for the most part, is not the point of the film. (The late Taylor Hawkins is seen very briefly-this was filmed years before his death)
The Rockin’ 1000 (the name sounds a lot cooler in Italian) became, in fact, the largest rock band on the planet. The film is a lot of talking head interviews, but the people on camera are so full of enthusiasm and wonder at their own accomplishment, that it keeps you engaged. Even before there is much to see.
From a technical standpoint, it’s cool to see how they figured out a way for musicians who were more than 80 meters apart to play in synch. A good Maestro and a visual metronome (flashing red lights) made it come together, as it were- amateurs and pros from every age group and social background, united by one passion: rock ‘n’ roll.
There are definitely parts where Rivaroli could have made some nips and tucks, but most musicians out there watching will enjoy riding the euphoric vibe that is unique to jamming live with other exuberant cats.
You can’t help but smile during those bits.
A joint release from Blue Fox Entertainment and Breaking Glass Pictures, WE ARE THE THOUSAND will open in theaters and arrive on VOD/digital platforms on June 3.
In additional to arriving on all major VOD, digital platforms, the film is opening in:
Galaxy Grandscape Theatre – The Colony, TX
Highland 10 – Austin, TX
Monica Film Center – Santa Monica, CA
Galaxy Atascadero Colony Square – Atascadero, CA
Green Valley Cinemas 8 – Henderson, NV
Galaxy Monroe 12 – Monroe, WA
Galaxy Victorian 13 – Sparks, NV
Emagine Lakeville 21 – Lakeville, MN
Imagine 19 – Canton, MI
