What Happened on September 11

About 'What Happened on September 11'

'What Happened on September 11' is a 2019 documentary television mini-series released by HBO aimed at helping children understand the horrifying events that took place on September 11, 2001. The documentary provides a comprehensive explanation of the 9/11 attacks in a manner suitable for a youth audience. It incorporates interviews with survivors, witnesses, family members of the victims, and first responders, thus offering a deeply personal insight into the tragic event.

Making / Production

The series is produced and released by HBO, with direction from Emmy-winner Amy Schatz. Schatz is known for treating sensitive subjects with respect and dignity, so the series provides an appropriate medium for explaining the events of 9/11 to a younger audience. The documentary includes archive news footage, and along with interviews, presenting a well-rounded view of the tragedy.

Actors

• Interviewee: John Coughlin - An NYPD officer who shares his account of responding to the scene and his experiences from that day
• Interviewee: Nicole Pumarejo - She shares the story of losing her aunt, a New York City police officer who was killed while assisting in the evacuation of the World Trade Center.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary is specifically designed to help children, especially those born after the events, understand the profound impact of September 11
• It was part of a collection of short films that were released in the same year, including 'In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11' which was focused on the experiences of eight Stuyvesant High School students during the attacks.

Awards

At the time of this writing, 'What Happened on September 11' has not been awarded, but it's critically acclaimed for its sensitive handling of the intense topic.

Quotes

• “It's a day for remembering, not about getting scared.” - kid from the documentary
• "September 11th is part of your history, even if it doesn’t feel that way." - Amy Schatz, director

Music, Soundtrack

• The music is composed by multi-award-winning composer Michael Bacon, known for his work on documentaries.