I went last night, alone. I had a hard afternoon - just thinking about going to the theatre brought me to tears several times. Upon arrival in the parking lot, I watched a mother and young teenage daughter in the car next to me. Happy in their time together. And then, a strange thing happened.
I immediately felt as if I had not arrived at a movie theatre, but an airport. I went to the ticket counter, passed through a gate for boarding, and then took my seat on the plane.
I looked at the people next to me in the theatre, no 'kids' but there were quite a few in the 20-30 range however most were 30-70 and wondered -if someone would hijack our plane - would they rise up. I knew what decision I would make, but I did not know what decisions would the rest of them make. And more, I find that a particularly interesing question in light of the politics in our country today.
There were a few times I thought I was going to throw up, but that was actually before the hijackers took over. As they took over, the most powerful point of the movie for me was seeing the realization as it unveiled itself to the passengers.
Anger took hold of me. The anger I felt that day. Yet the anger I felt that day was not from the attacks-that came later. It was from something else.
I gathered my children that day I encountered a student (a very large young man who was a 'slow learner'). He had relatives in NYC and 'lost it' after the televisions had been turned on in the classrooms at the high school and someone made a very stupid remark. Of all he should have done that day the principal, a timid fellow not in control, thought it best to focus on keeping this one student in control. I intervened, and helped calm him down, and left. Someone was smart enough to call the kid's pastor. But the principal wasn't satisfied and had to push one more button as they were leaving the grounds to show he was'in charge' and the kid took a swing at him. One of my children was very upset that I took him from school (guess which one), and when it appeared 'all clear' I took him back to school and found seven cops (with all the other stuff they should have been focused on that day) had the kid on the ground out by the road.
This affected me 'in my face' that day. The principal would have been the Scandanavian in the movie. (As it happens I was there when he was later removed as principal.)
This will bother me to my grave and I didn't realize why until I saw the movie- how kids in school are taught to never fight back. Mine were taught opposite, regardless of what school said, and more, that while they should never take the first swing- if someone took a swing they should go for it and make it well worth the punishment. I regret to this day that I left that kid. I should have taken him home with me.
I should have taken him to the movie with me last night.
In fact, I think I'll call him today.
Several months after 9/11 I was at a luncheon with a bunch of elderly women who I had not seen since before that day.
Realizing this, I took a poll and asked if they'd found themselves on this flight, who would fight back. Every one of them raised their hands.
I've seen a couple posts inquiring about the language, as far as taking kids to see the movie. I almost laugh - don't know why anyone would worry about language of all things in the context of letting kids see terrorists trying to kill.
I only saw one couple leave the theatre, BTW.
When I stumbled my way out of the theatre I found myself behind the man who was sitting behind me in the theatre. I didn't think I would be able to drive. Apparently he felt the same. I wished there had been a chapel set up to head to, I needed solitude, but all I had was my car. He sat in his van longer than I sat in my car.
Just as I got to my car the mother and daughter who parked next to me came out and I watched them, happy and relaxed, content in really enjoying each other's company on a beautiful spring evening.
We are blessed beyond description by the passengers of United 93.
I should have sat in the parking lot longer than I did, driving was difficult.
Thank you, Chris.
I had forgotten this, but when they started the movie yesterday, (there were no previews), I reached over as though I was going to put on my seatbelt as I was sitting there in the movie theatre. I remember thinking of how odd that was that my brain had been thinking about this movie for a week and actually had me on that plane.
You're referring to the blond man who wanted to placate the hijackers?
My impression was that that actor was portraying a German, not a Scandinavian. That was my take on his accent.
Btw, according to this critical article on 'United 93,' there's no evidence that any passenger on United 93 behaved that way. That bit of storyline was apparently invented.
That was one of the only things that troubled me about the making of the movie. (Wonder what the Germans will think about that -- making the only rat on the plane a German? That's not going to help Angela Merkl.)
I was also disappointed that Todd Beamer's role (and his reciting the Lord's Prayer with telephone operator, Lisa Jefferson, just before he famously called out, "Let's roll!"), was minimized almost to the point of nonexistence.
One more cavil: I thought more of the Arabic dialogue should've been translated and put into subtitles. And I question the translation of Allah as 'God.'
But those are minor quibbles. 'United 93' was great. It should be required viewing for everyone over the age of 15 in America AND Europe.