Title: "9/11"
Director: Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, and James Hanlon
Producer: Tom Forman, Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, and James Hanlon
Editing: R. Barber, M. Maloy, J. Schmidt, B. Spiegel, and M. Stone
Composer: Richard Fiocca and Michael Patterson
Starring:
- The NYPD, FDNY, and People of New York City.
Plot and Critical Review: "9/11" is a 2002 documentary film about the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, in which two planes crashed into the buildings of the World Trade Center. The film was directed by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, and NY firefighter James Hanlon.
The Naudet brothers were originally filming Tony Benetatos, a probationary firefighter of the New York City Fire Department assigned to Ladder 1 on Duane Street with the intention of making a film about the "probie's" experience. On the morning of September 11, Battalion 1 was called out on a gas leak. Jules rides with the Battalion Chief, Chief Joseph Pfeifer, to check it out. When a low flying plane flies by overhead Jules turns the camera to follow the plane and tapes one of only three known recordings of the first plane hitting the North Tower (Tower 1) of the World Trade Center. The members of Battalion 1 that were investigating the gas leak were the first responders on the scene and Jules was allowed to follow the chief during the attempted rescue operation. Jules, Chief Pfeifer and several other FDNY Chiefs are inside the lobby of Tower 1 when Tower 2 is hit by the second aircraft and when Tower 2 eventually collapsed (Gédéon, meanwhile, is back at the firehouse, filming the reactions of probie Tony Benetatos and the rest of the firefighters as they try to deal with the disaster). The film gives various firemen's accounts of the events of the remainder of the day, from the initial crash to the building's collapse to the attempts to rescue survivors from the rubble.
CBS aired the film commercial-free on March 10, 2002, to mark the six months since the attacks. Hosted by actor Robert De Niro, CBS's broadcast was repeated on the first anniversary as well; the DVD of the documentary was released in proximity (although De Niro's footage was edited out of the DVD release). CBS did another repeat airing of this documentary on September 10, 2006 the night before the 5th anniversary of the attacks, this was again hosted by De Niro. However, this version contained updates from the principal members of the documentary as of 2006.
The film was noted for its use of profanity, which in regular circumstances on USA broadcast media would be subject to censorship by the broadcaster or the Federal Communications Commission. However, a ruling by a federal appeals court successfully granted a "temporary halt" to the FCC's enforcement of its indecency rules. This allowed CBS and any affiliates to air the documentary without edits and without fear of facing stiff fines.
Director: Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, and James Hanlon
Producer: Tom Forman, Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, and James Hanlon
Editing: R. Barber, M. Maloy, J. Schmidt, B. Spiegel, and M. Stone
Composer: Richard Fiocca and Michael Patterson
Starring:
- The NYPD, FDNY, and People of New York City.
Plot and Critical Review: "9/11" is a 2002 documentary film about the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, in which two planes crashed into the buildings of the World Trade Center. The film was directed by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, and NY firefighter James Hanlon.
The Naudet brothers were originally filming Tony Benetatos, a probationary firefighter of the New York City Fire Department assigned to Ladder 1 on Duane Street with the intention of making a film about the "probie's" experience. On the morning of September 11, Battalion 1 was called out on a gas leak. Jules rides with the Battalion Chief, Chief Joseph Pfeifer, to check it out. When a low flying plane flies by overhead Jules turns the camera to follow the plane and tapes one of only three known recordings of the first plane hitting the North Tower (Tower 1) of the World Trade Center. The members of Battalion 1 that were investigating the gas leak were the first responders on the scene and Jules was allowed to follow the chief during the attempted rescue operation. Jules, Chief Pfeifer and several other FDNY Chiefs are inside the lobby of Tower 1 when Tower 2 is hit by the second aircraft and when Tower 2 eventually collapsed (Gédéon, meanwhile, is back at the firehouse, filming the reactions of probie Tony Benetatos and the rest of the firefighters as they try to deal with the disaster). The film gives various firemen's accounts of the events of the remainder of the day, from the initial crash to the building's collapse to the attempts to rescue survivors from the rubble.
CBS aired the film commercial-free on March 10, 2002, to mark the six months since the attacks. Hosted by actor Robert De Niro, CBS's broadcast was repeated on the first anniversary as well; the DVD of the documentary was released in proximity (although De Niro's footage was edited out of the DVD release). CBS did another repeat airing of this documentary on September 10, 2006 the night before the 5th anniversary of the attacks, this was again hosted by De Niro. However, this version contained updates from the principal members of the documentary as of 2006.
The film was noted for its use of profanity, which in regular circumstances on USA broadcast media would be subject to censorship by the broadcaster or the Federal Communications Commission. However, a ruling by a federal appeals court successfully granted a "temporary halt" to the FCC's enforcement of its indecency rules. This allowed CBS and any affiliates to air the documentary without edits and without fear of facing stiff fines.
"9/11" remains one of the most visceral and truthful of all the documentaries concerning the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Jules and Gedeon were positioned to capture footage that will never be reproduced or unearthed. The first-hand account they provide serves as both a testament to the bravery of those in New York City and a study of the emotion of fear. Not with the best actors and most talented crew could you produce the telling of a story (any story) such as we have here. "9/11" helps us to remember. "May We Never Forget"
My Rating: 8.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-0 and 5 – There's almost no violence between people outside of some playful hazing. But we do witness terrorist attacks which kill thousands.
L-3 – Many people (firemen and bystanders) curse.
DU-2 – The firemen smoke and drink several times through the course of the film.
RT-0 – No comment.
H/S-5 – If you remember how it felt to watch these events unfold then you'd probably agree a 5 is appropriate for horror and suspense.
CH-0 – No comment.
S/N-0 – No comment.
The "Reel Revelation": "Reunion"
Toward the end of the documentary Gedeon is filming many of the firefighters as they return to the station. Here we see many wonderful moments of reunion as the men embrace each other and tell stories of what they've seen and experienced. But in the midst of all the chatter and comforting Gedeon is asking everyone in sight, "Have you seen Jules?!" The last time they saw each other was when Jules left on an engine responding to the report of a gas leak. As news of the first tower's collapse came into the station Gedeon was left wondering where Jules was and if he was alive. At one point a firefigher approaches Gedeon and Gedeon again asks "Have you seen Jules? Do you know where he is?" The firefighter simply responds "Yes, he's right behind you." Here's how Gedeon explains the moments that follow:
"I turn over and Jules was there in the firehouse. I didn't even see him come in! It was like meeting for the first time. I asked Jules if he was alright, he tells me "yes". He tells me that he was all that time in the Lobby. I never thought i'd be so happy to meet my brother, that's for sure. We cried like babies for about 10 minutes."
Not all stories end this way, of course, and it's because we know that not all stories of this sort end in reunion that we struggle with the distance that grows between us and the people we love. Can you think of a relationship in your life which could use a reunion? Sometimes people leave for good reasons and they have our blessings even though we'd rather they stay close. Sometimes people leave when we don't want them to go. Sometimes people leave forever. In any case we hold the hope of reunion close to our hearts, even if we only hold it in the deepest and most secret parts of our lives. But there is no relationship in greater need of reunion than that between the whole host of humanity and God.
Few stories serve as excellent an illustration of this wounded relationship than that of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. The story is familiar to many but it is helpful to re-read Luke 15 (the entire chapter) just to get the story fresh in your mind. Here's the account of the son's return home:
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:20-24)
Here is the sort of reunion we should long for; one filled with celebration, welcome, forgiveness, and mercy. Here is the sort of reunion God has in store for those who return to him, confess their sins, and accept him as their Father and Lord. It sounds so simple, saying what you've done wrong and declaring that God is the only one who can save you, but that simple act of confession has kept many from knowing the fullness of God's love. Why? What could be so strong as to hold a person back from running into the arms of the loving God? The answer is in our own frailty.
How many times have we hesitated to reach out to those whom we love because we were afraid of judgement, condemnation, and further rejection? How many times have you ignored the words, notices, letters, and messages of those trying to get back into fellowship with you because of your own fear of what you might have to do or say once you stand before that person?
Even with our best effort not all of our relationships will find the reunion we see in the story of the Prodigal Son. This we must accept, for the earthly powers that work against such blessed reunion in this world are great. But our broken relationship with God is not beyond mending. This is why Jesus came into the world, to reach out to the whole of the human race and make a way for us to return to God. Perhaps the reunion we long to see with those around us must first begin by facing the Cross, falling to our knees, and saying "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your child."
See you tomorrow - E.T.
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