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11′09″01 September 11

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article 11′09″01 September 11, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 7 August 2025
11′09″01 September 11
Company typeAnthology film
IndustryFilm
Founded2002
FounderAlain Brigand (artistic producer)
Area served
International
Key people
Alain Brigand (artistic producer), Jacques Perrin, Nicolas Mauvernay, Tania Zazulinsky, Gabriel Khoury, Marianne Khoury, Čedomir Kolar, Nicolas Cand, Rebecca O'Brien, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Gustavo Santaolalla, Laurent Truchot, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Jon C. Scheide, Catherine Dussart, Nobuyuki Kajikawa, Masamichi Sawada, Masato Shinada
ProductsFilm segments directed by various international filmmakers

11′09″01 September 11 is a 2002 global anthology film consisting of eleven short films directed by filmmakers from various nations, each offering a distinct viewpoint on the September 11 attacks in New York City. Every segment has a precise duration of 11 minutes, 9 seconds, and one frame. The concept and production were led by French producer Alain Brigand. Internationally, the film has been distributed under multiple titles, such as 11′09″01 - September 11, 11 minutes 9 secondes 1 image (French), and 11-e-Septambr (Persian).

Segments

This anthology includes eleven parts, each crafted by a director representing a different country, presenting diverse interpretations of the events from September 11, 2001.

"Iran"

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, an Afghan refugee camp engaged in brick-making for new housing confronts uncertainty. A young educator strives to explain the tragedy to her pupils and attempts to establish a moment of silence for those lost. After several unsuccessful efforts, she finally enforces the silence beside a chimney—the nearest local structure resembling a skyscraper.

"France"

Set in New York on September 11, 2001, a young French photographer who is deaf and mute visits her fiancé, a tour guide specializing in trips for disabled visitors preparing to lead a group to the Twin Towers. Their tense relationship reaches a peak when he leaves her a message expressing his hope that only a miracle could preserve their bond. He later returns home covered in dust, having survived the catastrophe against all odds.

"Egypt"

On the day before the attacks, September 10, 2001, director Yusuf Shahin is filming at the World Trade Center but must depart due to lack of permission. Following the attacks, Shahin cancels a scheduled press conference, visibly shaken. He then encounters the spirit of a young American soldier who perished in the 1983 Lebanon attack. The soldier reveals Shahin’s exceptional capacity to witness ongoing events, and together they embark on an exploration of U.S.-Arab relations.

They observe preparations made by a young Arab attacker and engage with his parents, who express pride and emphasize Palestinian suffering under Israeli policies. While the soldier recognizes their grievances, he condemns acts of indiscriminate violence. Shahin responds by enumerating victims of U.S. military actions since World War II, criticizing America’s failure to understand that defending ideals often results in devastating consequences for other nations.

Their journey ends at Arlington National Cemetery, where Shahin reconciles with the soldier’s father—the policeman who had previously expelled him from the Twin Towers. Subsequently, the attacker’s ghost appears and reproaches Shahin for his empathy toward the soldier. Shahin argues that both are casualties of human folly; however, the attacker remains unrepentant, leaving Shahin confronted with his unyielding perspective.

"Bosnia-Herzegovina"

In spite of the New York attacks, a young woman from Srebrenica remains determined to organize the monthly protest honoring the victims of the Srebrenica massacre carried out by Bosnian Serb soldiers on July 11, 1995.

"Burkina Faso"

In September 2001, in Ouagadougou, Adamà is compelled to abandon his education to care for his ill mother. Spotting a man who resembles Osama bin Laden, he and his friends devise a plan to capture him and claim a 25 million reward from Adamà's employer, hoping to use the funds for medical expenses. After unsuccessful attempts and police interference, they resort to selling a stolen camera to finance Adamà’s mother’s treatment and facilitate his return to school.

"United Kingdom"

Pablo, a refugee from Chile living in London, writes letters to families affected by the September 11 attacks. He reflects on his personal "September 11": the 1973 coup orchestrated by the US and led by General Augusto Pinochet against democratically elected President Salvador Allende. He shares memories of the violence he suffered, his exile, and expresses a wish for mutual remembrance of these tragedies.

"Mexico"

A black screen filled with ambient noise is shattered by screams as flight AA11 crashes into the World Trade Center. Voices of announcements and victims overlap before fading away as the towers silently collapse. The screen transitions from black to white, displaying text in both Arabic and Latin script: "Does God's light guide us or blind us?" before dissolving into light.

"Israel"

Following a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, soldiers, police officers, and medical personnel coordinate under tense circumstances. A journalist and her team attempt to report but are repeatedly hindered. The director intervenes to highlight the importance of September 11, connecting it to recent events in New York and emphasizing its enduring significance.

"India"

After losing contact with her son Salman following the Twin Towers attacks, a Pakistani woman faces intense suspicion from the CIA and FBI due to his Muslim identity. Media coverage exacerbates her family’s alienation until Salman's remains are identified six months later, confirming he died helping victims. At his funeral, she denounces the atmosphere of distrust directed at her family and the wider Muslim community in America.

"United States of America"

An elderly widower residing near the Twin Towers copes with solitude by speaking to his deceased wife and caring for a dying flower pot. When the Towers collapse, sunlight floods his apartment, reviving the flowers. This renewal also starkly reveals his loneliness as he mourns that his wife is not present to witness it.

"Japan"

Set in August 1945 Japan, Yoichi, a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, exhibits snake-like behavior that alarms both family and villagers. Despite their efforts, his condition deteriorates amid wartime trauma and societal mistrust. A flashback reveals his rejection of wartime violence. When confronted by his wife during a search, Yoichi retreats into a river, symbolizing his detachment. The film concludes with the phrase "Holy wars do not exist" displayed in Japanese.

Awards

During the 2002 Venice Film Festival, the production was honored with the UNESCO Award, while Ken Loach's contribution earned the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Short Film.

Producers

  • Alain Brigand (artistic producer)
  • Jacques Perrin
  • Nicolas Mauvernay
  • Tania Zazulinsky (for the "France" segment)
  • Gabriel Khoury and Marianne Khoury (for the "Egypt" segment)
  • Čedomir Kolar (for the "Bosnia-Herzegovina" segment)
  • Nicolas Cand (for the "Burkina Faso" segment)
  • Rebecca O'Brien (for the "United Kingdom" segment)
  • Alejandro González Iñárritu and Gustavo Santaolalla (for the "Mexico" segment)
  • Laurent Truchot (for the "Israel" segment)
  • Lydia Dean Pilcher (for the "India" segment)
  • Jon C. Scheide (for the "United States of America" segment)
  • Catherine Dussart, Nobuyuki Kajikawa, Masamichi Sawada, Masato Shinada (for the "Japan" segment)

Writers

Music

Cinematography

  • Samuel Bayer (United States of America segment)
  • Luc Drion (Burkina Faso segment)
  • Ebrahim Ghafori (Iran segment)
  • Pierre-William Glenn (France segment)
  • Peter Hellmich, Jorge Müller Silva, Nigel Willoughby (United Kingdom segments)
  • Yoav Kosh (Israel segment)
  • Mustafa Mustafić (Bosnia-Herzegovina segment)
  • Mohsen Nasr (Egypt segment)
  • Masakazu Oka and Toshihiro Seino (Japan segment)
  • Declan Quinn (India segment)

Editing

  • Rashida Abdel Salam (Egypt segment)
  • Kim Bica and Robert Duffy (Mexico segment)
  • Jay Cassidy and Alejandro González Iñárritu (Mexico segment)
  • Julia Gregory (Burkina Faso segment)
  • Allyson C. Johnson (India segment)
  • Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Iran segment)
  • Stéphane Mazalaigue  (France segment)
  • Jonathan Morris and Kobi Netanel  (United Kingdom and Israel segments)
  • Hajime Okayasu  (Japan segment)
  • Monique Rysselinck  (Bosnia-Herzegovina segment)

Related profiles

FFlight 93 (film)UUnited 93 (film)99/11 (2017 film)TThe 9/11 Commission Report (film)
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