11'09'01 September 11

The premise delivered to these 11 filmmakers was simple...

What came of that brief is an extraordinary piece of filmmaking as directors from all over the world displayed their thoughts upon screen. Herein we have the lyrical, the sad, the angry, the wise. Resonant and beautiful, the stories are told with equality of mind – but not necessarily equality of opinion. For example, Israel’s contribution sees the terrorism at home and how it compares to New York’s tragedy.

There is an overwhelming air of reflection here as the world media at the time was swamped with the events in New York City. The irony of that incredibly visual event as it was displayed endlessly for days, while people of other nations carried on in places where terrorism is a daily unreported occurrence. And, tragic as September 11 was and remains, there are places where such an event is but a drop in the ocean.

"…from that moment onward our pain and your pain were legalised..."

However, all stories here are told with the innocent in mind. There is never a moment’s disrespect to any innocent, regardless of race or belief. The unity of humanity is more impressed upon us and this is the important thing to remember; that this event, so horrific to us in the west, still goes on elsewhere like it has for decades. It’s nothing new to many of these directors, yet they can still feel our pain as we feel theirs, describing comparisons to atrocities most of us will never have heard before.

This is an important film. It shows us how much of an effect the U.S. has on the rest of the world. It shows us the importance of remembering this is not an isolated event. It shows us people are people wherever we go and deserve the same respect. And, it shows us that whatever else may occur, hope remains for all.

While there are many, many varied techniques here, all are relevant and all score top marks. There are grainy newsreels from the past and there are endless expanses of black screen. There is black and white footage so old or decayed it has faded to blues, with swarms of artefacts littering the film. Still, it is perfect.

All shot in the time since 2001, the colours are great, flesh tones true and shadow detail excellent. Blacks are realistic (particularly in film seven, which is almost entirely black screen). The overall film has been delivered in 1.85:1 with 16:9 anamorphic enhancement and looks magnificent, regardless of recent or old film stock. (I should stress that all of these films have been made regarding September 11, 2001. They aren’t old films re-released).

Whilst we are granted Dolby Digital 5.1, this really doesn’t get employed until film seven, the Mexican contribution. If, like we did, you have had the sound up to compensate for the former films being lower in volume, this particular film will rattle your windows and truly bring home the horror to you. From here on the films all begin firing up the surrounds and each one uses them in their own unique way.

Dialogue is all fine, though there are multiple uses of other languages with subtitles quick to join in and help us.

Music has been scored by Alexandre Desplat and this is all things it needs to be; haunting, lyrical, touching, hopeful, moody. It is quite an achievement and is remarkably beautiful.

On the main menu is a world map. This same map appears before each film showing us where in the world it comes from. At the base of this menu map is written each country which acts as a chapter list, allowing us to view any film on its own.

The original trailer is included here, and while this gives us more of an idea about the film, it shouldn’t be viewed first as there are perhaps spoilers among it. This runs for a minute 34 in 1.85:1 without 16:9 enhancement.

While there aren’t much by way of extras, this is more than adequate as all the films speak strongly enough on their own.

In remembering my own horror upon learning the news that day, it is interesting, to say the least, to learn how the rest of the world felt. We all saw images of excited Afghans and grief stricken Americans, but the rest of the world took a backseat at the time. And not to say all Afghans felt the way of those in that footage. No doubt they didn’t.

In this film we explore the other themes associated with those September events. Herein are the innocents, the love and miracles, the stupidity of violence, the commonness of terrorism, the misused funds, the hypocrisy, the terror itself, irony, the illumination and the unholiness of war, regardless of where it is or to whom it happens.

It is reverential and confronting and will leave anyone here in Australia very glad to live where such events are not commonplace. I earnestly recommend that everyone see this film. As citizens of Earth, we should all view events through other eyes and every perspective and constantly question those who lead us.

It’s saddening, it’s haunting and it’s confronting. But it also resonates with hope and love and the incredible resilience of human beings.