AFI Docs 2021: 9/11: One Day in America
afi docs 2021If there was one single day to point to as a changing point in modern American culture, 9/11 would be that day. The various terrorist attacks on American soil not just took a tragic number of lives but also left a scar on the American soul that still hasn't fully healed. While there have been numerous pieces capturing the events of the day, Daniel Bogado's new series 9/11: One Day in America immediately becomes one of the defining and most comprehensive texts regarding the subject. Part of the 2021 AFI Docs Film Festival, the series uses an incredible amount of archival footage to teleport the audience to the events of this day and, largely, let it speak for itself with various talking head interviews from those directly involved guiding the narrative.
What immediately stands out in 9/11: One Day in America is the sheer vastness of footage the documentary series uses from that day. Even now, 20-years after the event and hundreds of projects on the subject later, the series still has footage that feels shocking and new. Truly having the ability to suck audiences into the raw and chaotic horrors of that day, it is hard not to see 9/11: One Day in America becoming a definitive text when it comes to the subject, with its raw and authentic final result. Using an incredibly strong selection of talking-head interviews to further the emotional pull of the series, the series also feels naturally engaging and almost undeniable in its effects. At no point does it feel badly paced or tedious to get through, which is not always the easiest thing to do as a historical documentary.
This power is found not just in the capturing of objective facts of the day but also the emotional toll of it. Specifically in those well-placed talking head interviews, the series gives a voice and pays respect to both the heroes and victims of that tragic day. From those specific individuals who sacrificed their lives to help others to the community as a whole who stepped up in the face of fear and tragedy, the sheer humanity featured throughout the series is incredibly powerful. This only furthers the rather comprehensive exploration of the day found throughout that helps justify the multi-episode format of storytelling used.
Not only is the series able to accomplish this because of the incredible amount of footage it has access to, but also because of the filmmaking behind the project. Not just proficient but genuinely quite incredible, the direction given is confident and controlled in the best of ways. Daniel Bogado so easily could have gotten lost with the endless amount of details and perspectives he could have focused on but instead constantly holds true to his powerful vision, truly showcasing his talent as a documentary filmmaker.
Even with countless other pieces of media tackling the same subject, it is hard to view 9/11: One Day in America as anything but one of the best. Comprehensively and authentically capturing both the objective and subjective of this tragic event, it is near impossible to find anything of issue within the series, which immediately becomes a genuine masterpiece of the genre. This is a defining statement that deserves to be celebrated and appreciated for decades to come.
