US docu shows humanitarian mission in Jolo

A documentary showing the exploits of people who travel to the most turbulent places on earth to deliver humanitarian aid will be previewed tomorrow as an entry to the Cinemanila International Film festival at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

The film “Beyond the Call,” shows a snapshot of Sir Ed Artis, James Laws and Walt Ratterman’s travel to war-torn Jolo, one of the poorest and most dangerous islands in Sulu.

Part of the film shows how they braved the conflict in Jolo to deliver medicines, medical equipment, food and books to the poor.

Artis, Laws and Ratterman are members of Knightsbridge International, a US-based humanitarian organization that has provided millions of dollars worth of food, shelter and medicine to people in war-torn locations throughout the world.

They have traveled to far-flung hot spots in Rwanda, Afghanistan, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Chechnya, and the Philippines to bring aid.

Through its partnership with the US-Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF), the US Embassy and the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag), Knightsbridge International has been donating life-saving humanitarian relief to the people of Basilan, Sulu and nearby provinces in Mindanao since 2002.

In the Philippines, Knightsbridge has delivered $30 million in food, electric hospital beds, x-ray machines, incubators, wheelchairs, crutches, high-tech hospital equipment and medicines in the last five years.

Jolo is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Knightsbridge.

“Beyond the Call” was directed by Academy Awards nominee Adrian Belic (for Genghis’ Blues). He followed Artis and friends for five years in different places, including a trip to Afghanistan a month after 9-11.

The movie, billed as an Indiana-Jones-meets- Mother Teresa kind of adventure, has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Mountain Film Festival and previewed in prestigious international film festivals like the Tribeca film festival in New York, San Francisco International festival, Palm Springs International festival and others.

The movie follows the adventure of the knights weathering scorching sun, driving rain, illness, snow bombs and bullets in different war-torn countries.

Belic, here for the Cinemanila festival, says the film chronicles Artis’ life coming full circle.

“Artis grew up in the rough streets of America, he got into trouble and was a former criminal. He was an old soldier who came to realize that he wants to do what is right, that he wants to help humanity,” Belic says.

He says the Filipino audience will love “Beyond the Call,” because they will be able to relate to the universal theme of love for family.

“When we come face to face with human suffering, it doesn’t matter what job you have, what culture you come from, as a human being you are compelled to help in any way you can,” Belic says.