9/11 BY THE NAUDET BROTHERS 1 OF 6

9/11 BY THE NAUDET BROTHERS PART 1 OF 6

Narrated by Robert DeNiro

It is unfortunate that the Academy Awards failed to nominate the documentary “911" for Best Documentary in 2002. Made by Gedeon and Jules Naudet it is arguably the greatest documentary ever filmed. Two French brothers who look dissimilar arrived in New York City circa 1989. Was greatness predicted in both at an early age?

As many people know, the Naudets were actually filming a documentary about a rookie firefighter when the World Trade Center was attacked. Their skill level with the pre-9/11/01 footage is obvious; somehow the Naudets were turning a group of firefighters into skilled actors. All of the firefighters from Engine 7 that we see in the production appear to be completely at ease with being filmed candidly. One singular example of the willingness of this cast to perform is seen when skinny, tall, amiable Jules is preparing food. A firefighter moving behind Jules expertly cracks that if Jules continues to cook they’ll all be able to wear his shirts. It is difficult imagining this gag was accomplished with a single take, leading one to wonder how much of the rest of it was recorded this way.

‘911’ is a curious blend of documentary and historical drama. A number of the montages we see appear impossible. For example, to represent the morning of 9/11/01 we see breakfast on the firehouse griddle, a smiling Chief enjoying a quiet moment and firemen putting on their protective gear and exiting the firehouse. Were these images all acquired on 9/11/01? If so, the Naudets must have jumped out of their beds shooting video. If not, then technically this sequence is fiction. It is unclear where the fictional elements end and the documentary work begins.