United 93 - a review

Silence
Entering the packed theatre last night, we all came from different places. Some of us came individually, as friends, families, but we were all strangers to each other. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into.

A similar experience happened as the passengers boarded the fateful flight 93. These were ordinary people who were about to experience something extraordinary.

I have never been in a theatre so quiet after a film ended. As the credits rolled, people were still not talking to each other as they quietly walked to the exits. Moments of silence are symbolic of respect and remembering. Perhaps that's what was happening to us but more likely we just didn't know what to say.

Why see this movie? Why make it? What purpose does it serve? I'm not quite sure yet.

United
I don't think it's a happenstance that Greengrass decided to call the movie "United 93". It has little to do with the airline company and everything to do with the passengers and crew of that flight number. They came from different places. They were different sexes, colors, and had different beliefs and lifestyles. The circumstances put them in a situation where they were united. United not against something but for something, for life.

It's true that the movie only makes it's best guess at what might have happened on that plane. But there are certain things we do know. We do know the passengers were aware of the world trade center crashes. We do know there was some kind of struggle. And we do know that these strangers needed to be united in a struggle to save their own lives or the very least the lives of those in the building the plane might crash into.

Of the 4 planes hijacked that day, United 93 was the only one that did not reach it's intended target. As we realize we are no different than our neighbor, it can compell us to do great things. It compels us to see them as equal and unite together to love other people who are in every way equal to us.

So what's the purpose of this film? For one, it serves as a memorial, in the same way a wall at Washington might for people who have lost their lives. And also it is important to remember how we can be united as one country and one people. Remember how we all came together, despite all of our differences, after the attacks? It seemed to last only a couple months but it was a glimpse of what could be if we all stood together for life.