New movie prompts memories of tragedy
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 17, 2006
How soon is too soon? Today, director Oliver Stone's docudrama “World Trade Center” will be released across the country. Whether we're ready or not for it remains to be seen.
Hollywood has a long history of dramatizing actual events. War pictures were predominant during World War II, way back when producers and directors did their patriotic best to help promote America's involvement in Europe and Asia.
We've already seen how one movie - “Flight 93,” about the brave souls who sacrificed themselves on board a jet plane headed for Washington D.C. that fateful day - stirred America's emotions. “World Trade Center,” which tells the true story of the unlikely survival of two New York Port Authority police officers amid the Twin Towers' ruins, promises to affect everyone in a deeply profound way.
An Associated Press story reported on Monday that New Yorkers and those who lost family members on 9/11 are already speaking out against the motion picture. Carie Lemack, whose mother was on board one of the planes, told reporters, “I don't want to see my mother's murder.”
“Some of us just don't need itŠwe need a break and it's everywhere, it's just so pervasive and it's so hard,” she added.
The choice to see this movie will largely be a personal choice. Undoubtedly, the people of New York - many personally affected by the events of 9/11 - will shy away from this film.
What this film does do, however, is serve as a poignant reminder to a dark day in American history and one that will reinforce our tribute to the fallen victims of terror. And that tribute is to never forget.