Watch The Skyjacker's Tale

The Skyjacker's Tale is a documentary released in 2016, directed by Jamie Kastner, who also wrote the script. The film is about Ishmael Muslim Ali, born as Ishmael LaBeet, a man convicted of murdering eight people during a botched armed robbery in the US Virgin Islands in 1972. The incident is known as the Fountain Valley Massacre. He had been sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences for the crime, but he managed to escape to Cuba in 1984, where he lives as a free man today. The film explores the story behind his decision to hijack an airplane and flee to Cuba and the political implications of his actions.

The documentary begins with the hijacking of an airplane in 1984, where Ishmael Muslim Ali forced a flight full of passengers and crew to travel from New York to Havana. The film then travels back in time to establish the context of the hijacking, which was a result of the racial tensions that existed in the US Virgin Islands in the 1970s. The Virgin Islands were going through a period of political turmoil, and the economy was in shambles. Ali was a member of the Black Power movement and felt that the white-dominated US government and its local allies were suppressing the black population. The film highlights the events leading up to the Fountain Valley massacre, where Ali's group planned to rob a bank to finance their political movement. The robbery turned into an armed confrontation with the police, leading to the death of eight people.

The Skyjacker's Tale offers a thought-provoking examination of the political situation in the US Virgin Islands at that time. The film explores how the US government exercised its power to maintain control over the territory, often through harsh and oppressive methods. The people of the islands, especially the African American population, felt discriminated against and marginalized, leading to a rise in political activism. The documentary examines how the Black Power movement gained momentum in the territory and how Ali became a prominent leader within the group.

One of the strengths of the film is the interviews with Ali himself. He talks about his experiences leading up to the robbery and his views on the political situation in the Virgin Islands. He gives a first-hand account of the Fountain Valley Massacre and how he came to be viewed as a terrorist by the US government. The interviews are a fascinating insight into the mind of someone who felt oppressed and who took drastic measures to fight back.

The documentary also features interviews with several other individuals who were involved in the case. We hear from Ali's lawyer, who explains the legal process that followed the robbery, and how Ali was able to avoid the death penalty. We also hear from the US Attorney for the Virgin Islands, who talks about how the case affected him and how he felt that justice had not been served.

The film also offers some insights into the political situation in Cuba, where Ali was able to escape to. The Cuban government gave him asylum and allowed him to live there as a free man. The documentary explores the political motives behind Cuba's decision and the impact that Ali's presence had on the already tense relationship between Cuba and the US.

Overall, The Skyjacker's Tale is a thought-provoking and engaging documentary that offers an important insight into the political situation in the US Virgin Islands in the 1970s. It explores the motivations behind Ali's actions and the impact they had on his life and the lives of those around him. The interviews with Ali himself are particularly insightful, and the film raises important questions about justice, oppression, and the role of political activism in society.

The Skyjacker's Tale is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 54.