I've found over the years that the best movies are the ones that are effective at stirring the audience's emotions and inciting debate. Judging from the powerful and emotionally moving trailer, the controversial new movie "United 93" seems to fit the bill perfectly.
The film, which premieres on April 28, relates the events of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and in particular, the events that transpired aboard United Flight 93. It was on that flight that the passengers fought back against their terrorist attackers and, in doing so, averted disaster and probably saved hundreds of lives.
But everyone seems to be asking a few questions: Is this the right time for a 9/11 movie? Should such a movie even be made? I can remember feeling a multitude of emotions as I watched the heroic actions of the passengers in the movie trailer -- sadness, anger, fear, but also pride, empowerment and hope. It is precisely because of this range of emotions that I believe that "United 93" has a place in our theaters. Despite the aura of gloom and despair that Sept. 11 carries with it, the actions of the United 93 passengers remind us of our nobler qualities and that there is hope and honor, even in the face of tragedy.
Some critics have argued that the film will stir renewed anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment, of the sort that was rampant in the aftermath of the attacks. Of course, a good measure of cultural sensitivity is crucial, especially in this era of heightened international and cross-cultural tension. But similar claims of potential conflict have been made about controversial movies in the past, but have never come to fruition. For instance, in the months leading up to the release of "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004, there was intense debate over the possible inflammation of widespread anti-Semitic sentiment resulting from the film's depiction of Jesus' brutal torture and death. Such speculation proved to be largely unfounded and, in many cases, the exact opposite occurred. Many viewers were moved by the film's message of forgiveness as personified by Christ.
Likewise, behind the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11 is a story of strength and courage -- one that many people understandably overlook. On that fateful day, the 40 passengers of United Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers and prevented them from steering the plane into their intended target in Washington, D.C. They died as heroes when the plane finally went down in a field in Somerset County, Penn. Some argue that a reenactment of the events that transpired on the plane betrays an appalling insensitivity to the victims and their families, especially since the events occurred less than five years ago. But the film pays homage to the bravery and heroism of the passengers; it was that very heroism which resulted in the plane missing its target and crashing out of harm's way. It is a message that audiences, especially those who weren't directly affected by the tragedy, need to be aware of. It is a story worth telling.
Of course, some critics will write the film off as an attempt to exploit the victims of Sept. 11 and milk a national tragedy to make a profit. But just because the film is going to make money at the box office does not mean that there isn't a worthwhile story to be told. Moreover, director Paul Greengrass only proceeded with the project after obtaining the unanimous approval of every victim's family. If the movie were being released say, five or 10 years down the line, it wouldn't be as big of an issue. Rather, the real issue is that the movie's release date still feels too close to the time of the actual attacks, meaning that the events are still relatively fresh in everyone's mind. I'll admit that this is a legitimate concern, but if not now, then when? When is the "right time" to release a movie like this? The pain and loss that the victims' families feel will probably never disappear completely, and, truth be told, there may never be a "right" time. But films and projects like "United 93" give the families of victims a chance to let the world know that their loved ones did not die in vain, and should therefore not be so quickly dismissed.
A film like "United 93" is ultimately not about hate-mongering or opening up old wounds, but about education and awareness. Especially here at Dartmouth, where it is so easy to become disconnected from the world and lulled into a state of comfortable disinterest, we need powerful artistic messages to galvanize us out of our apathy and remind us of the issues that have affected and will continue to affect our lives. And while the motivation behind the film's production can certainly be debated, I believe that art should be judged primarily by the ideas that it conveys. Finally and perhaps most importantly, especially in this day and age when tragedy greets us everyday in front page headlines, we need films like "United 93" to remind us that even in the face of unimaginable catastrophe, there is always a silver lining.
