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 twentysomething equities trader working on one of the floors where terrorists directly struck the South Tower at the World Trade Center. As the tale is told by some of the 18 people Crowther saved, they were overwhelmed by smoke and darkness on various floors. Unable to find a way out, they were startled by the sudden appearance of an unknown man wearing a red bandana across the lower half of his face. This was Crowther, who announced that he knew the way to a staircase, and repeatedly led groups of injured people (even carrying some) to street level. Crowther lost his own life during his continuing efforts, creating a heartbreaking mystery for his family and friends about what happened to him that day. While all of this proves compelling, the soul of filmmaker Matthew Weiss’s Man In Red Bandana lies in Crowther’s life story, which almost lends itself to the idea that he was born to perform such an extraordinary act of valor. Interviews with his family are beautiful and tear-inducing, and viewers come away with the feeling that what Crowther did that terrible day was utterly characteristic. An inspiring documentary about a true American hero, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Man In Red Bandana
(2018) 80 min. DVD: $24.95 ($325 w/PPR from edu.passionriver.com). Passion River (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 4
Man In Red Bandana
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