9-11

“I love you, honey. I think something terrible happened. Well… I don’t think I can live. Take good care of the children.” (A message Stuart T. Melcher who worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11 left to his wife.)

“Mom, this building is on fire. Smoke is coming through the wall. I can’t breathe any longer. I love you, mom. Bye.” (Veronique Bawer called her mom on the same day.)

On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center, which had been a symbol of New York, was destroyed by two airplanes. It was ordinary people who lost their lives in the buildings that made people in the whole world shed tears when they faced this movie-like accident. Victims thought of their family when death came toward them. And there were rescuers who entered the site at the risk of their lives for victims.

Five years later, Oliver Stone, who delivered political messages in “Platoon” and “JFK,” chose family love and humanity over politics. The movie “World Trade Center” released on October 12 is based on true stories of people who experienced that day.

John McLaughlin (Nicolas Cage), a sergeant from NYPD, started his new day by patrolling the downtown of New York as usual. But there was thundering noise with the shadow of an aircraft. He got an order to move to the WTC right away. Four rescuers including John entered the building, but it collapsed and only John and his teammate Will Jimeno (Michael Peña) survived, becoming trapped under the debris. Their families become frustrated with the news, and John and Will endure hardships in the face of death.

You may expect huge spectacle when you hear the movie is about 9/11. However, you might be bored if you expect it. There is no dramatic spectacle in the movie which can capture the attention of audience. It just goes on without big tension. However, the close-up scene of the muddy faces of Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña, who are unable to move an inch in the dark, is very remarkable. It is focused on delivering the atmosphere of the site as realistic as it can. Korean audience may be reminded of the accident of collapsing Sampung Department Store. There are news clips from all over the world that informing the situation every minute, therefore it seems like a documentary.

The movie “World Trade Center” tries to deliver American values such as Christianity, family, and patriotism. When death approaches, main characters chant the Lord’s Prayer and see an illusion of Christ. After all their hardships, they finally survive. And when John meets his wife, he says, “You kept me alive.” One marine runs into the site, saying, “It is the Lord’s summon to die for a country at stake.” This is so American.

The stories about ordinary people’s courage and love are moving, not artificial. However, it seems like the last line of the movie, “9/11 shows the duality of human beings, horrifying devil and goodness hidden on the other side,” gives a feeling that the U.S. is goodness, thereby inversely reminding me of the victims of the Iraq war. Rated PG-12.

yourcat@donga.com