About What Happened On September 11 (HBO)

"What Happened On September 11" is a gripping HBO documentary released in 2019. This documentary gives an in-depth look at the events of 9/11, an unforgettable day that significantly shaped history. It puts a specific emphasis on conveying this difficult story to a younger audience. Moreover, it also features interviews with "9/11 kids" who were born after the attacks and a variety of firsthand accounts from survivors and witnesses.

Making / Production

Directed by Amy Schatz, the documentary takes an educational and thoughtful approach to explaining the events of September 11, 2001, to young viewers. The film carefully unpacks the severity of the attacks, its historical relevance, and its lasting cultural and personal impacts. This significant documentary intends to answer children's questions about what happened on that day in a meaningful, sensitive, and understated way.

Actors

• Young students - These children are not professional actors but youngsters offering earnest questions about their vague understanding of the tragedy. Their candid performances contribute to the documentary's authenticity and honesty.
• Firsthand witnesses - Their accounts provide a direct, personal perspective of the tragedy that contributes towards providing a comprehensive look at the events.
• Survivors - Featuring retelling of the harrowing experiences they underwent that day, making the film poignant and real.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• What Happened On September 11 is specifically designed for and geared towards children aged seven to twelve.
• This film is an important contextual resource for explaining the tragedy of 9/11 to younger audiences who weren't born when the event took place.
• The documentary is sensitive, tactful, and avoids showing disturbing images and footage of the event itself.

Quotes

• "Let’s just say a bad thing happened. Really bad. And because of this, people were scared. People weren’t ready. But it brought them closer to one another." - A line in the film summarizing the 9/11 event for children.

Music, soundtrack

• The film utilizes soft, solemn background music to maintain the serious tone of the documentary. The tracks are carefully chosen to make viewers feel introspective and engaged but not to further distress them.