If you haven’t seen the History Channel’s ‘102 Minutes That Changed America’, set some time aside and be sure to check this thing out. I know the promise of a 9/11 made for TV documentary isn’t the most enticing, but directors Nicole Rittenmeyer and Seth Skundrick (and producers Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs) make use of an ingeniously simple approach to overcome the challenges of reframing a historical event that’s been repeated by the news media ad nauseam.
The film combines multiple sources (16mm film footage, amateur home video, news) and edits them into an almost real-time replay of the terrorist attacks as seen from the hundreds of people who capture it with their cameras. Some brilliant editing and subtle sound design result in a truly visceral multi-angled piece of citizen journalism, full of amazing images and harrowing moments.’102 Minutes That Changed America’ overcomes a desensitized, jaded perspective on one of the most replayed, retold, and rerun news events. Unfortunately, I don’t think it has quite overcome the stigma of its made-for-TV History Channel roots. The film is embedded in full above.
I think the news coverage of said event was terrible, they kept rerunning the same shots over and over again, it was one of the most poorly covered sequence of events for the entire news media, and it remains to be this way. That is why people are jaded to the entire news media, they only cover events that have a political agenda that they agree with, so it isn’t at all surprising.
Extremely well made! I had my doubts, too. I figured I’d seen all the 9-11 footage I needed to see, but this was such a smart, gripping way to do it.
I actually caught this a year or so back when you mentioned it on the Film Junk Podcast and it is a truly incredible film. I was too young at the time to understand the sheer scope of what happened on this day and this is one film that brilliantly captures the chaos and confusion that happened that day. I wish that this film was given more recognition. It’s one of my favorite documentaries.
I just watched it and I all the memories of that day came back. I couldn’t control myself at some moments, really well done. Smartly edited and crafted. Thanks for sharing. Never forget.
Terrific film ! it is just great !
The style reminds me another really good documentary made with all kinds of footage in order to “recreate” that event .The move is called : Videograms of a Revolution by Harum Farocki