9/11 (2002)

In the heart of New York City, 2001, two French documentarians, Gédéon Naudet and Jules Naudet, joined forces with firefighter and budding filmmaker James Hanlon. Their mission? To encapsulate the nine-month probationary journey of a young and eager firefighter, Tony Benatatos, at the frontlines of the city's Engine 7/Ladder 1/Battalion 1, a firehouse poignantly close to the iconic World Trade Center. But, the fabric of their lives and their documentary took an unimaginable turn on September 11, 2001. Initially set on capturing the contrasting realities of a firefighter's life, the Naudet brothers and Hanlon inadvertently found themselves in the eye of a storm, their cameras rolling as the World Trade Center was attacked. The film became a chilling testament of the events, providing a rare, up-close perspective of the firefighters' valiant efforts during the pivotal first two hours of the attack. Gédéon Naudet, traversing largely on foot, captured the raw emotions of the public and the firefighters, their lives turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Jules Naudet shadowed the firehouse's chief, Captain Joseph Pfeifer, stationed in the lobby of WTC1, the first tower to be hit. Despite the intimate perspective, the lobby's inhabitants were largely oblivious to the full scale of the terror unfolding above. Many, including Jules, were still in the lobby when WTC2 collapsed, leaving viewers holding their breath, questioning their fate. The narrative also weaves in the uncertainty surrounding Benatatos, thrown headfirst into the big league, his whereabouts during those crucial two hours unknown to his comrades until later. The documentary transcends the ordinary, evolving into a powerful chronicle of tragedy and heroism from inside the Twin Towers that day. It offers a perspective unlike any other, an intimate view of bravery and humanity amidst chaos and destruction. This film is not just an account of a historic event, but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit under fire.

9/11 is a documentary movie featuring Tony Benatatos and directed by Jules Naudet.

It is possible to buy 9/11 on Amazon Video.