Watch Sole Survivor

Sole Survivor is a gripping documentary film from 2013 that examines the traumatic experiences of four people who were the only survivors of catastrophic plane crashes. The movie was directed by Ky Dickens, and it features interviews with Bahia Bakari, Cecelia Cichan, George Lamson Jr., and Jim Polehinke - four individuals whose lives were forever changed by the plane crashes they survived.

The film opens with the story of Bahia Bakari, a young girl who miraculously survived the 2009 Yemenia Flight 626 crash in the Indian Ocean. The crash took the lives of 152 people, including Bakari's mother. Bakari's story is particularly poignant because of her age - she was just 12 years old at the time of the crash. Bakari recounts the moments leading up to the crash and the harrowing experience of being in the water for hours before being rescued. The film explores the psychological impact of the experience on Bakari and her family, as well as the aftermath of the crash in terms of the investigation and legal repercussions.

The second story in the film is that of Cecelia Cichan, the sole survivor of the 1987 Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash in Detroit. The crash claimed the lives of 154 people, including Cichan's entire family. Cichan was just four years old at the time and unable to remember any details of the crash. The documentary delves into Cichan's life post-crash, including the physical injuries she sustained, her adoption by another family, and her decision to live a private life away from the media spotlight.

The third story in the film is that of George Lamson Jr., who was the only survivor of the 1985 Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crash in Reno, Nevada. Lamson's story is particularly fascinating because he actually remembers the crash - unlike Cichan, who was too young to remember and Bakari, who lost consciousness during the crash. Lamson recounts the moments before the crash and the trauma of being trapped in the wreckage for hours before being rescued. The documentary explores Lamson's life after the crash, including his struggle with survivor's guilt and his eventual decision to become a motivational speaker.

The final survivor featured in the film is Jim Polehinke, the co-pilot of Comair Flight 5191, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Lexington, Kentucky, in 2006. The crash claimed the lives of 49 people, including Polehinke's fellow pilots and Polehinke's own wife. Polehinke's story is unique in that he was not the only survivor of the crash - he sustained serious injuries but managed to crawl out of the wreckage and flag down help. The documentary delves into Polehinke's memories of the crash, as well as his physical and psychological recovery in the aftermath.

Overall, Sole Survivor is a deeply affecting and thought-provoking documentary that explores the aftermath of catastrophic plane crashes from the perspective of the survivors. The stories of Bahia Bakari, Cecelia Cichan, George Lamson Jr., and Jim Polehinke are compelling and harrowing, and the film raises important questions about the nature of survival, resilience, and trauma. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the human experience of tragedy and survival.