United 93
dir. Paul Greengrass · 2006
Feature
War Trauma
Mood
Tense / Dark
Look
handheld documentary realism, stark and immersive
Structure
real-time unfolding of events
Plot
On September 11, 2001, two American Airlines and two United Airlines domestic U.S. flights are hijacked by terrorists. After the collision of two planes against the World Trade Center and one against the Pentagon, the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 decide to struggle against the four terrorists to take back the control of the airplane.
Why watch
"United 93" immerses viewers in the harrowing real-time struggle of passengers fighting for survival on September 11, 2001. With its documentary-style realism and relentless pacing, the film captures the raw emotional intensity of a national tragedy, making it a poignant exploration of heroism and sacrifice.
Cultural context
post-9/11 Americanational traumathe rise of terrorismcollective memory