We’re less than four months away from the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a day that all of us will never forget. The movie “World Trade Center” was released just after the 5-year anniversary of that horrible day. I saw the film’s director, Oliver Stone, speak at Cal-State Sacramento in November 2006. He was in Sacramento trying to encourage voting. He spoke candidly about the need to discuss 9/11, that as tough as it is and as horrible has it was, we must heal through each other’s stories.
We all know how the movie begins and ends, but this film is centered around the true story of two Port Authority police officers who were trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center. They survived and this movie is the tribute to John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Pena). These two guys were part of a team that went into the WTC.
I selected this film because earlier this week I went to ground zero. As I came around the corner and saw the construction of the WTC memorial and the new buildings (check wtcprogress.com), I was instantly moved to tears. I recognized that the street I was standing on was the most famous footage of people scrambling from rubble. I looked to my left and saw St. Paul’s church, which was across the street from the WTC and survived both towers falling near it. I walked around the area and truly soaked in the moment.
I saw a fire station that was also across the street from the Towers. It’s still a fire station, but now has a Memorial on the side wall with posters that show the picture and name of all the fallen firefighters. Of course, due to the recent killing of Osama bin Laden (drop your political caps and take this movie as the human spirit), I was hesitant to speak to any NYPD.
However, I had the great honor to visit the fire station and speak to a firefighter. I told him I was from Hawai‘i and how all of us were behind them and what they did. That we were ten hours away by plane, but would do what we could if closer. The fire-fighter looked at me and said “you came all the way from Hawai‘i?” I told him I’d wanted to thank him for what he and his fallen brothers did.
When standing 10 feet away from where the WTC stood you realize there is only one kind of hero: the police and firefighters who rushed into those towers. I was so honored to express my gratitude and the fire-fighter in a genuine, thick NY accent said “thanks a lot buddy, it means a lot you’d come from Hawai‘i and say thank you.” It was in that moment that I saw the true purpose of this film: the humanity that binds us all and the humility this firemen gave me to think “what bad have I ever experienced?”
I decided I had to share this movie and experience with the people of Kaua‘i. If you’re unable to go to NYC or want to honor those who helped our country — watch this film. It is hard to watch, but I realized as my tears subsided after 15 minutes, that like the director said “we have to heal through one another.” That firefighter and I gave each other a gift and I’m grateful for it.
Other than its subject matter, it’s a perfect depiction of a story we all know. I will say it’s one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances, 90 percent of the movie his acting is only from the chest up.
Year: 2006
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Nicolas Cage
1. Manhattan
2. Scent of a Woman
3. Almost Famous
4. Vanilla Sky
5. The 25th Hour
6. Angels in America
7. Taking of Pelham 123 (re-make)
8. Wall Street
9. Dog Day Afternoon
10. Annie Hall
