This past weekend, I watched the film United 93. I debated whether I wanted to watch this movie or not. I intentionally have avoided shows and movies about 9/11. Networks like CNN and Fox News have made a living off sensationalization, fear, and unethical reporting. Hollywood doesn’t seem like it would be much better. But I had heard that this movie was different. So I watched it.
It was amazing. The approach is a near real-time look at what happend to flight 93 from both the perspective of the passengers and the air traffic controllers. Watching this movie feels unlike anything else I’ve seen. So much of it is showing what is routine to anyone who has ever been in an airport. Knowing what is going to happen gives you this feeling of dread the entire movie. The most appropriate word is heartbreaking.
Watching the movie, you realize that everyone was trying to do their job. You feel both anger and sympathy as the aircraft controllers fail to make sense of an unimaginable situation. Given that many of the actual air traffic controllers appeared in the film, I have to believe that it is accurate. It is shocking to see both the military and ATC be rendered powerless. They do not realize the plane hit the World Trade Center until they see it on TV. All these people had information that might have reduced the damage done. But no one could communicate with each other. If not for the courage of the passengers on United 93, the White House would have been hit.
Along with the film is a one hour documentary on 5 or 6 of the families of the victims portrayed in the film. It was surprisingly effective in putting context on the movie and how it was made. It actually made me feel better about watching the movie knowing that the families were heavily involved and that they approved it.
I’m not sure what role a film like this should play. It does not give us justification for what happened. It does nothing to give us confidence in our leadership. I suppose it provides some comfort in the testament of the human spirit when faced with certain defeat. If anything, it should serve as a snapshot of what happened that terrible day.
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