11'09"01 (2002) |
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Eleven international directors were invited to create eleven minutes of film in response to the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, in New York City. - © Amazon.com. Used with permission. Where to find the Twin Towers:Throughout the entire film; it's all about 9/11. Moving and often emotionally devastating, this is an incredible collection of short films that must be seen. As I understand it, 11'09"01 has never been released in the United States (many of the films take a hard view of the U.S.); I had to stay up until 3:00 a.m. to watch it on TV during a trip to Australia a few years ago. Fortunately — and amazingly — the film was finally released on DVD in October, 2004. Warning: There is "live" footage from that awful day.
- JR
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9/11 WTC Ground Zero Heroes (2005) |
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The prayers, the tears, the painstaking recovery & cleanup operation at Ground Zero seen as it was happening & captured by Steve Spak. This is what it was like to work at Ground Zero. This video was taken over the 8-month period during the cleanup & recovery operation. ... - © Amazon.com. Used with permission. |
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9/11: The Filmmakers' Commemorative Edition (2002) |
* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *
Originally broadcast on CBS in March 2002, 9/11 is an extraordinary record of that fateful day in New York City. This one-of-a-kind documentary was originally conceived as a portrait of 21-year-old Tony Benetatos, a firefighter trainee at Manhattan's Duane Street firehouse, located seven blocks from the World Trade Center. By the time filming was finished, brothers Jules and Gedeon Naudet had captured history in the making, including the only image of the first jetliner striking Tower 1, and the only footage from within the tower as it collapsed. This is not, however, a film about the murderous nightmare of terrorism. It's the ultimate rite-of-passage drama, more immediate and meaningful than any fiction film could be, with Benetatos and his supportive colleagues emerging as heroes of the first order. Sensitively narrated by codirector and fellow firefighter James Hanlon, 9/11 will endure forever as a tribute to those, living and dead, who witnessed hell on that sunny Tuesday morning.
- Jeff Shannon
© Amazon.com. Used with permission.
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Aftermath: Unanswered Questions from 9/11 (2003) |
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With the increasing controversy surrounding the federal probe into the September 11 terrorist attacks, GNN decided to pre-empt the government and produce its own version of a "truth commission" with Aftermath: Unanswered Question from 9/11. What did the Bush administration know and when? Should airlines have been more prepared for 9/11? What ties did the US government have, if any, with the terrorists? Aftermath delves into the troubling span of issues that have arisen since the attacks on 9/11, including: the negligence of military officials in reacting to the hijackings; proven links between the hijackers, Pakistani intelligence (ISI) and the CIA; the role of oil in the Eurasian conflict; the impact of post-911 legislation on American civil liberties. The film poses questions that continue to overshadow and critically challenge the administration’s official version of the story, and is a must see for those who continue to question the terrible and as yet unexplained events of that day. Narration and original score by hip-hop legend Paris.
- © Amazon.com. Used with permission.
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Answering The Call: Ground Zero's Volunteers (2005) |
Narrated by Kathleen Turner. From the official site: "Within minutes of the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11/01, emergency personnel and volunteers from around the nation responded to New York's call for help in what is considered by many as the greatest rescue mission ever. When everything could have totally fallen apart, these remarkabale [sic] people revealed to the world the true meaning of the American Spirit. This is their story!"
JR's warning: This is not a "pure" documentary. Again, from the official site: "In order to illustrate some of the recollections of those interviewed for Answering The Call, the producers have supplemented existing ground zero footage with re-enactment scenes that were filmed in Delaware in late March." |
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Bowling for Columbine (2002) |
Where to find the Twin Towers:Includes 9/11 footage of the North Tower on fire, and the second plane hitting the South Tower.
- JR
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Clear the Skies: 9/11 Air Defense (2002) |
* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *
Strategic response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is thoroughly analyzed in the riveting BBC documentary Clear the Skies: 9/11 Air Defense. This hourlong program examines the events on 9/11 from the perspective of U.S. domestic defense, beginning at 8:30 a.m., shortly before the first hijacked jet struck the World Trade Center towers, and ending late that afternoon when President Bush safely returned to Washington, D.C. Dozens of startling details are revealed, including the fact that only four Air Force fighters were available to defend the entire Northeastern United States; the blast doors in the North American Air Defense command center, deep within Colorado's Cheyenne Mountain, were closed for the first time since operations began in 1966; and President Bush assured reporters on Air Force One that "two-bit thugs" would not keep America down (a candid off-the-record expression of Bush's anger).
What emerges from this chronological account is the sobering conclusion that America was unprepared for this "new kind of war." But Clear the Skies also demonstrates how admirable efficiency prevailed under extreme circumstances, as Air Force pilots, reporters, and government officials share their memories of those unforgettable hours. Emphasis is placed on procedures that grounded nearly 5,000 aircraft to achieve an unprecedented state of "Air Traffic Control Zero." Actual radar footage shows how quickly this was accomplished, and a step-by-step analysis of the day's events (using file footage, photos, and dramatic reenactments) shows how the protection of America's executive chain of command was 100% successful. With a compelling combination of split-screen images and deep-background investigation, Clear the Skies offers an all-access pass to the complexities of air defense. Among the many fine DVDs that chronicle 9/11 from a variety of perspectives, this is one of the best.
- Jeff Shannon
© Amazon.com. Used with permission.
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CNN Tribute: America Remembers (2002) |
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This comprehensive documentary gives you a powerful, minute-by-minute account of the events of 9/11 as they developed, as well as a compelling look at the aftermath: a time of reflection, resolve, and retaliation. CNN's tribute to our nation's spirit will move you, inspire you, and leave an impression as unforgettable as the events it chronicles.
- © Amazon.com. Used with permission.
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Diverted (2009) |
Where to find the Twin Towers:This documentary about the flights diverted from the U.S. to Newfoundland (Canada) during the 9/11 attacks shows brief footage of the attacks on the WTC. - JR |
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History Channel: Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters 13 (2002) |
| This doco, which also covers the Love Canal disaster and the Cocoanut Grove fire, pays especially close attention to the collapse of WTC 7 (as an "engineering disaster"). - JR
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