United 93 -- Too Soon?

By Taylor Kite

[1] As 21st century Americans, we live in a time and place where the word “terrorism” evokes strong and relevant emotions. Undoubtedly the isolated incident that comes to mind first upon thinking of terrorism is the tragedies of September 11, 2001. This is the day that changed our world forever. That said, the impact it had on the American people and their outlook on life and what it meant to be an American was more significant than most other areas. American children watched the television, confused and lost, as the two towers came crashing down. This confusion grew into concern when they saw their parents try to hide their emotions and saw the man they understood to be the leader of our country go in front of the world proclaiming this to be the worst attack on the American people in history. Then he said that word again -- terrorism. What did this mean? Who was that scary-looking man in all of the pictures? What was his background and why did he hate us so much?

[2] These questions skim the surface of what America’s adolescents were thinking around the time of September 11th, and parents frantically tried to address them while asking questions of their own. Is our country still safe? Are we under perpetual attack now? Does this mean war? What will this do to the economy and my children’s future? Is this the end of America as we know it? All of these questions lingered for the years to come, so when, right before the fifth anniversary of the disaster, publicity began for a Hollywood film covering the story around United Flight 93, the fourth hijacked plane that crashed into a desolate field in Pennsylvania, ears perked up.

[3] Officially named United 93, the film in question was directed by Paul Greengrass and did not feature any big-name actors. The big question on everyone’s minds was this -- was it too soon to make a movie about such a sensitive event? Was the world and, more importantly, America, ready to have part of the horrific day put up on the big screen? Also, what creative interpretation was the director going to take with it? This film marked the first Hollywood adaptation of the day, and while there has to be a first for everything, timing is also important, and the general public was highly critical of the film before it even hit theaters.

[4] There is no doubt that September 11th is a day that will always hold a place in American history, but it is really too early to understand and analyze the full historical context of this event. We are still fighting the wars that were initiated as a result of that day, and it was just two days ago that we ended the ten-year manhunt for bin Laden, the man responsible for the atrocities. While this is currently being viewed as a “victory” for America, there are still so many unanswered questions and concerns regarding the entire situation. That said, we are just approaching the ten-year anniversary of September 11th, so there is no way that on the five-year anniversary we were any better off. In fact, we knew even less about the event’s impact and where it really fit into history. This is the argument many people took when saying that the film was released too soon. How can we accept a Hollywood film about something we barely even understand yet? Why pay to go see an interpretation that is based on few facts and mostly speculation? I say speculation because the director inserted many of his own beliefs about what happened on United Flight 93 that day. In piecing together the conversations between passengers and their loved ones that occurred once they realized what was going on, as well as the little blurbs of sound retrieved from the cabin, Greengrass was able to put together some plot content. However, the rest was left up to him to put together. This sparked apprehension towards the film, but, despite these questions, there were some people defending the film and its purpose.

[5] The purpose of the film, as argued by those involved directly with the film as well as analysts, was to commemorate the heroes of Flight 93 who took a stand and decided to stand up to the hijackers. Had they not done this, it is widely believed that the plane was headed towards either The Capitol building or The White House. These passengers saved our nation from further catastrophe, and it can be assumed that they knew doing so meant sacrificing their own lives. These patriotic and brave acts absolutely deserve recognition, and what better way to get widespread recognition than to release a Hollywood movie about it. From this perspective, I argue that the movie was warranted and certainly support its purpose. Further, does saying “we aren’t ready for this” demonstrate a weakness of the American people? We are a strong country, and supporting a film about our absolute weakness shows the world and ourselves that we are rebuilding. From this perspective, there is no bad time for the film, but rather its relatively early release shows that we are facing the problem head-on and support those who make sacrifices for our safety and beliefs.

[6] Both of these sides of the question present strong arguments as to why the film was or was not released too early. Personally, my own opinion really does not matter here. It is up to each reader and student and American to come up with an answer on his or her own. Regardless of what the “right” answer is, the bottom-line message is clear and important. We must recognize the reality of the situation and move forward as a nation. This is the greatest tribute to the fallen heroes because it shows that they did not sacrifice for nothing, and that our nation really is going to stand tall and strong, and bring justice to those who wronged us.