Remembering 9/11

Offering an effective overview of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks—released to coincide with the 10th anniversary—Remembering 9/11 begins with background information on both the rise of Al-Qaeda in post-Soviet-occupied Afghanistan and the emergence of Osama bin Laden as a deep-pocketed, U.S.-hating power in the world of radical Islam, before turning its attention to an almost minute-by-minute account of what happened on that terrible Tuesday coupled with interviews of various individuals (regular New Yorkers, public servants, Pentagon officials) about their experiences during the catastrophe. The documentary captures the enormous shock of the attacks, looks at the way fragmentary information and emergency procedures (e.g., shutting down domestic air traffic) created disarray, and revisits George W. Bush's soothing and supportive remarks to the nation later that night. 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. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)