About In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11 (HBO)

The HBO documentary 'In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11', first released in 2019, presents a compelling account of the horrific events of 9/11 from the perspective of eight students who were going to the prestigious Stuyvesant High School located just blocks away from the World Trade Center. The documentary artfully draws on the young students' firsthand experiences, mixed with archival footage and present-day reflections, to capture the confusion, fear, and trauma felt by them on that unforgettable day.

Making / Production

The director, Amy Schatz, teams with HBO to craft this emotive portrayal of personal stories from one of America's darkest hours. The alumni include students from diverse backgrounds, effectively demonstrating the multicultural mix of Stuyvesant High and New York City. The power of this documentary is in the courage of these former students to share their experiences and perspectives.

Actors

• Ling Dong: Played herself and shared her experiences of being at Stuyvesant High School on the fateful day.
• Ilya Feldsherov: Played himself and recounted the traumatic experience.
• Jessica Chao: Played herself, characterized the day as surreal and spoke of the lasting impact.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary includes never-before-seen archival footage and images that provide a sense of the real-time chaos and shock that pervaded the scene.
• The Stuyvesant High School was just four blocks away from Ground Zero, yet classes were resumed less than a month after the attacks, raising concerns about potential health risks.

Quotes

• "We were kids, just trying to get home.” - Taresh Batra.
• "I remember walking up and seeing this thick, yellow smoke just hanging in the air."- Ling Dong.

Music, Soundtrack

• 'In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11' does not have a traditional soundtrack. Instead, the soundscape of the film features atmospheric sounds and personal testimonies, capturing the authenticity of the voices and the raw emotion of the moment.