Premiering 19 years after 9/11, “We Are Many” is a fascinating documentary by Amir Amirani that focuses on the implications of the Iraq War, focusing on the anti-war efforts and the media support behind the war.
The timing of “We Are Many” wasn’t random: the United States just observed the 19th anniversary of the tragic 9/11 attacks, which resulted in countless deaths after a series of aircraft were hijacked. The legacy of that attack is still felt today, with protests continuing to rock the globe with regularity. “We Are Many” offers a unique and detailed look at the thought processes behind how and why the United States and its allies developed a comprehensive campaign to stage a war against Iraq, as well the public response to it.
The decisions made in the days and months and years that followed the attacks were systematic and intentional, and not met without some degree of suspicion from individuals within and outside of government which climaxed in global protests.
“We Are Many” follows the timeline of events after 9/11 and touches on many critical moments- from the perspective of the media, individuals, and governments- as the US and Britain began to separate from the global recommendations of not proceeding with the war.
The most emotional moment in the documentary is the montage of protests, the essence of the documentary’s title. It was a truly global moment, and the imagery was remarkable- footage of protests on every continent. The sheer volume of people is stunning, and the approaches to protest in different countries shows just how diverse the world is, but truly united in many ways.
The documentary has comprehensive perspective, but has a particular focus on the viewpoint of Britain, where the anti-war sentiment started as early as September 15, 2001, mere days after the attack in the US.
That said, the documentary is not particularly exciting nor amusing. It is an intense study on one of the most unanimously-opposed wars in history. But it does offer some rare perspectives from those who were involved first-hand, including some precious anecdotes of key situations that took place behind closed doors.
Appearances of Hans Blix, leader of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, Jeremy Corbyn, MP, Patrick Tyler, former Chief Correspondent from the New York Times, Lord Falconer, former Secretary of State, as well as academics and other cultural figures help color a story that was truly vertical in impact.
You can view the documentary as of today. Find your viewing location here: https://www.wearemany.com
