RSS 2.011’09”01 – September 11 (2002)
Based on an idea by Alain Brigand, 11 directors from various countries were each invited to make a short film offering their own interpretation of the events in New York on September 11, 2001. The only limitation was that, symbolically, each short be exactly 11 minutes, nine seconds and one frame long (11’09”01)…
Understandably perhaps, this would never be a collection of films without controversy considering their point of inspiration and the complete artistic license given to each filmmaker. And not an easy review. My guess also is that individual viewers will be moved in different ways by each of the diverse shorts dependent on their culture, geographic location and/or politics.
For me (English, Europe, Lefty), out of the 11 shorts there were three that struck a chord. For its unique perspective and cinematography, French director Claude LeLouche (A Man and a Woman) who gave an ‘artistic’ view of the events from the perspective of a deaf woman who lives by the World Trade Center yet is unaware of the events unfolding around her. Also powerful (and based on a true story), Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), depicted the confusion and anti-Islamic feeling experienced by a Moslem woman living in New York whose son went missing following 9/11. The most succesful, however, was probably that of British director Ken Loach (Bread and Roses, Ladybird, Ladybird) in the eloquent and clever way he drew parallels between September 11, 2001 in New York with the military coup on September 11, 1973 in Chile when former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, and the CIA intervened to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Salvador Allende and installed dictator General Pinochet.
Apart, perhaps, from the opening film which ‘sweetly’ depicted the impact felt by Afghan child refugees living in Iran as they struggled to find the relevance of the events in New York to their own lives, the rest of the films were at best tenuous to the subject matter or too artsy. And, at worst, simply an excuse to express anti-US sentiment, forgetting that those who died in the twin towers were innocent victims and that two wrongs don’t a right make…
Particularly unimpressive was the unimaginative effort by Amores Perros director, Alejandro Gonz’lez I”rritu, whose rather insensitive short of reworked footage I would I describe as ’911: The Remix’ and would be more suited to a nightclub, a multimedia exhibition… or a trash can; Israeli director Amos Gitai’s unbelievably ridiculous film of a staged bombing in Tel Aviv; and the weak choice of final film by Japanese director Shohei Imamura, a bizarre short which had little, if any, bearing on the subject matter (one wonders if he spent more time editing existing material than shooting new footage). And, finally, as for Sean Penn’s directorial effort: Sean, don’t give up your day job.
pip (29 posts)Writer, DJ, ideas junkie and ex-artist (animation) living in Amsterdam with a penchant for Hitchcock's, inspired independents and the occasional shameless pulp - all washed down with cocktails and homemade popcorn.
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I’ve seen the DVD lying at the rental several times, but I cannot be brought to rent it. Imo it is too early to give a real insight as to what the aftermath is of this tragedy. The event in itself is surreal and grotesk, but it’s aftermath is all the more interesting and is forcing itself upon our lives.
I think it is still too early for that to see. If that is the intention of the film.
Comment by paco — Tue October 28, 2003 @ 16:00I have to disagree with you about the piece by Alejandro Gonz’lez I”rritu. I actually thought it was extremely powerful. I know a lot of people have problems with artists using this particular moment of the 911 tradgedy. But I like the way he used the noise, confusion and black outs to really disturb the audience.
Comment by Denise — Mon November 3, 2003 @ 9:32It is certainly a film that generates strong reactions and opinions. This film was banned in the USA by the way, particularly because of the Ken Loach piece that really confronts the US propaganda machine in the aftermath of 911. It is really too soon after the fact to know what legacy it will contribute towards. I do think that it is great that it was made even if not every film is equally as strong. Given the perverse way the Bush administration has used this event to both generate emmotional propaganda and lamely attempt to justify his oil war. This film does, if nothing else, get one to think about their own feelings and react to different perspectives.
Mmm…. I’m still not convinced by Alejandro Gonz’lez I”rritu’s short. The use of noise, confusion, blackouts and recycled (and looped) original footage just served to make it arty. And why would it be done to disturb the audience? What’s the point of that? I think anyone with a heart was disturbed by the events of the day.
I read that the film was banned in the US but I believe there have been several screenings there despite. Didn’t know it was particularly because of Ken Loach though. All power to him.
Comment by pip — Mon November 3, 2003 @ 19:08