September 11 Commemoration

Five years have gone by, the pain and the heroism are still with us. This Sept. 11, Avon Lake Public Library will remember the heroes of September 11 and our loss with a day-long screening of films revolving around the events of that day in 2001.

At 9:15 we’ll screen 9/11: The Filmmakers’ Commemorative Edition, a film by Jules and Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon. This documentary follows a firefighter into the Twin Towers on September 11. Maybe the only footage shot from inside before the Towers fell, this tribute to those who gave their lives to save others won two Emmys.

At 1 p.m. see Twin Towers: The True Story of Two Brothers Whose Courage Will Never be Forgotten. Two brothers - one a firefighter, one a police officer - are remembered for their bravery in New York City on September 11. This documentary won an Academy Award.

And at 2 p.m we’ll screen Eleven Minutes, Nine Seconds, One Image: September 11 (this movie is also known by the title 9′ 11′ 01)by Youssef Chahine and ten other directors from 11 countries. Each director has contribute an 11-minute, 9-second short, reflecting on the events of 11 September 2001. Each short film is another look, from another country, on the events of that day. This last film, or series of films, is very challenging, as well as notably uneven. Some of the films are tributes to those who died or to those who risked all that day. Some of these films ask us to experience the suffering of other people in the world who have endured other atrocities, in some cases at the hands of Americans. Not all of the films work very well. Some maybe work too well.

I hope each of the movies will deepen our reflection on this tragedy, on our experience of being Americans and on our role as Americans in the world. These movies are not for everyone. They contain violent scenes and harsh language. They ask us to remember, to empathize with those in pain (and with our own pain) and to reflect. I hope you will join us for this Commemoration.

We will show these films in the Gallery, making use of our new state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. Along with the films, we’ll display our September 11 flag with the names of those who died in the Towers and a journal to record any thoughts you’d like to share. You are welcome to come and go quietly to the films that interest you or as your time allows. Between and after the films you may wish to discuss your reactions and your hopes for the future with other viewers.