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On a Wing and a Prayer is the true story of a Pakistani American who wants to learn to fly and earn his pilot's license. The documentary film chronicles the life of Monem Salam as he trains with a small flying school in his hometown of Bellingham, WA, and faces challenges as an American Muslim who wants to learn to fly in a post-9/11 United States.
Monem overcomes the typical hurdles — memorizing flight acronyms, conducting smooth take-off and landing procedures — and some not so typical — explaining to a physician that he’s still okay to fly despite having been born with only one ear— with the support of his straight-talking wife, Iman, and the quirky crew from his flight school. And he also embraces the opportunity to engage his neighbors in conversations about his faith, family and growing up a Pakistani American.
Iman rounds out the picture by opening their home to the cameras. Throughout the course of the film, she describes the joys and frustrations of raising three children together, comments dubiously on the likelihood of ever being a passenger in a plane piloted by her husband and declares she'd like to be the Islamic Martha Stewart despite a self-proclaimed lack of cooking skills.
This is the story of a common dream made uncommon by the faith of its protagonist and, more importantly, by the stereotypes that many Americans carry but few want to admit. After an intimate glimpse of this family’s indisputably American life, it’s impossible to argue that someone like Monem shouldn’t have the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father — a commercial airline pilot for more than 25 years — and experience the freedom of flight.
On a Wing and A Prayer will make its broadcast premier on PBS in May. To preview a movie trailer, check local broadcast times, and learn more about the amiable cast, visit www.onawingandaprayer.tv.
Posted on April 24, 2008
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