This past weekend I saw the movie United 93. It is as gut-wrenching movie experience as I have ever had. Halfway through the film, I took off my sweatshirt I was wearing. Even without the sweatshirt, at the end of the movie I found my shirt drenched in sweat. And walking out of the theater with probably 50 other people, there was a reverent and respectful silence -- homage to the incredibly brave men and women aboard United 93.
United 93 is the story of the 4th hijacked flight on September 11 -- the flight in which the passengers, knowing of the planes hitting the World Trade Center, fought back, saving this nation the horror of seeing our Nation's Capitol Building in flames and ruins. The movie is remarkably well-made. The hand-held camera shots give it a feeling of urgency, immediacy and intimacy that draws the audience in, even though we know the end result. Unrecognizable actors play the roles of the passengers and crew, giving them that "everyman" quality. Many of the ground personnel are played by themselves.
This is not a politicized or glorified version of events that day. There are no "bigger than life" John Wayne characters, no heroic speeches -- just the events and the ordinary people swept up in them. And in many ways, that makes their actions even more heroic.
The question is not "is the nation ready for this movie?", but rather is "are you ready for this movie?" That is because the decision to see this movie is entirely personal. I will not try to talk anyone into seeing it. There is no right or wrong as to whether to see it.
The only "right" is the way in which the makers of this film went about their work. This movie is an honest account of the people who lost their lives on United 93 on September 11. And in that honesty lies the greatest tribute of all -- the courage and heroism to act under circumstances of paralyzing fear.
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