"Not a Stranger" follows the story of a social media buff that after being diagnosed with severe depression sets out to make a personal project that will ensure that he comes out of his house. He will approach a stranger on the street and talk to him or her and get them to share their stories with him. The results are surprising as each time he approaches someone the stranger opens up to him and reveals much of himself. The take away here is that, in an era where people seem to connect more through screens and text messages, the truth is different, for there is a gap being created amongst people and the simple act of approaching another person has been lost. In here we are shown that people truly want to connect to others in a more personal manner, in a way that includes a handshake and a smile, and these people want to matter, they want to know others and share their lives. Everyone is a story waiting to be told, like a book. One must do nothing more than to open it for its stories to come out and pour into his life. As the documentary progresses, it turns out that an entire group of people have been touched and changed by this social experiment. They have the chance to have their stories told, and to matter. Far from getting lost as one more contact on a Facebook page or a lost commentary on twitter, human connection becomes rekindled and goes back to its roots. Social interaction on a one on one level will never be replaced, it is necessary, it's part of who we are as a species and it is more alive than ever.
Enrrico Wood - Oaxaca Filmfest Curator
Enrrico Wood - Oaxaca Filmfest Curator