It has been 20 years since the devastating tragedy of the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation. These powerful documentaries shed light on wide-ranging topics related to that harrowing day. Take a look below at our list of highly recommended films for your 9/11 programming or collection.
Man in the Red Bandana
A 9/11 story you might not have heard yet, this stunning documentary about heroism and self-sacrifice, narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow, tells the story of Welles Crowther, a twenty-something equities trader working on one of the floors where terrorists directly struck the South Tower at the World Trade Center . . . An inspiring documentary about a true American hero, this is highly recommended.
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9/11 The Day That Changed the World
The 9/11 terrorist attacks have been called the 102 minutes that changed both America and the world. Narrated by Martin Sheen, this Smithsonian Channel documentary presents a 10th anniversary "inside" look at the nation's confusion, uncertainty, and fear, followed by the determination and resolve to identify and punish the attackers . . . One of the best 9/11 anniversary documentaries, this powerful film is highly recommended.
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Out of the Clear Blue Sky
The organization that suffered the greatest number of fatalities on 9/11 was a major tenant at the top five floors of One World Trade Center: Cantor Fitzgerald, the Wall Street investment firm, which lost 658 of its 960 employees . . . Offering a heartbreaking view of a horrible event witnessed through the prism of one terribly hard-hit company, this is highly recommended.
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Remembering 9/11
Not just a remembrance, the film also sadly notes how the legacy of 9/11 lives on in grief over loss and the continuing health problems of first responders in New York. A solid, affordably priced title, this is recommended.
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The Road to 9/11
This compact hour-long PBS-aired documentary provides a thumbnail sketch of the events that helped shape the current volatile political situation in the Middle East, which can be traced back to the end of World War I . . . The film—which combines archival footage with interviews of scholars and journalists—nonetheless presents a cogent overview of Middle Eastern politics. Highly recommended.
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