9/11: The Twin Towers (2006)

Director:

Richard Dale

Writers:

Andrew Bampfield (writer)
Ed Fields (contributing writer)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

September 11 2001 | Reenactment | Terror Attack | Fireman | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Terence Stamp	...	Narrator (voice)
Hong Zhu	...	Himself - interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Jay Jonas	...	Himself - Interviewee, NYC fireman
Al Smith	...	Himself - interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Jan Demczur	...	Himself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Paul De Martini	...	Himself, interviewee, brother of Frank De Martini
Rick Bryan	...	Himself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Stella Olender	...	Herself - Interviewee, mother of Christine Olender
Stanley Praimnath	...	Himself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Dianne DeFontes	...	Herself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Brian Clark	...	Himself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir
Jack Gentul	...	Himself - Interviewee
Rebecca Clemento	...	Herself - Interviewee, wife of Victor Wald
Nina De Martini	...	Herself - Interviewee, sister of Frank De Martini
Josephine Harris	...	Herself - Interviewee, 9 / 11 survivoir

Also Known As:

9/11: The Day the World Changed (International: English title)
Inside the Twin Towers (USA)

Runtime:

Finland:98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Lithuania

Company:

Dangerous Films

Trivia:

Actor Jean Reno is the narrator in the French version of the drama.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (2007) (TV)

Fitting tribute

Mostly dramatised, mixed in with some archive footage and interviews with survivors / relatives, this account of 11th September 2001 is a deeply affecting film that is honest, upsetting and dramatic in equal measure. The film follows the stories of a few people from inside both towers, some who survived, some who did not. While several sequences involving selfless bravery (specifically Harry's and Frank's tales) fill you with a sense that the human race may not be all that bad, what is really moving is the interviews with the survivors, most of whom feel guilty at surviving, and a few who even insist they are cowards because they escaped the WTC's collapse while others elected to remain behind to save lives. Dramatising such a stunningly traumatic event will always be difficult, but this film makes the right choice by mixing it with interview footage. If there is one grumble to be made, it is that Terence Stamp's narration seems impersonal and sets the wrong tone throughout.