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Mixed emotions watching 9/11 documentary

Friday, September 11th, 2009

It’s been eight years to this day since the horrific events of 9/11. In the run up to this tragic anniversary Channel 4 have been running several documentaries to mark and remember that fateful day and I caught the middle of 9/11 – Phone Calls from the Towers. Listening to the voices of those trapped in the World Trade Centre leaving messages to their loved ones or firefighters reporting from within – it was heart-wrenching, horrifying, morbidly fascinating. Only when the commentary forwarned the viewer that the next voice we’d be hearing was from someone in the tower speaking right up until the moment the building came crashing down did I finally walk out of the room.

I can understand some of the families wanting to give to give the tragedy a human element, to give their loved ones who died a voice, and pay tribute to their last moments. But for those of us watching…yes, it certainly made for compelling viewing, but I couldn’t help but feeling like a sick voyeur.

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity Manager

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