As one of the most significant days in American history approaches, there will be many unique programs to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. On Sunday, September 11, starting at 9/8c, USA will premiere a commercial-free, back-to-back presentation of THE SPACE BETWEEN starring Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Melissa Leo (“The Fighter,” “Mildred Pierce,” “Frozen River”), and the Academy Award-winning documentary short TWIN TOWERS at 10:21pm, produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski of the long-running “Law & Order” franchise. Both films are part of USA’s Characters Unite public service campaign to combat intolerance and discrimination.
Descriptions and pictures follow the jump.
In THE SPACE BETWEEN, Montine McLeod (Leo), a lonely flight attendant, and Omar Hassan (Anthony Keyvan, “Lost,” “iCarly”), a 10-year-old Pakistani-American boy, are on a plane that is grounded in Longview, Texas, on the morning of 9/11/01. When Montine discovers that Omar’s father (Phillip Rhys) works in the World Trade Center she is forced to drive the boy back home to his uncertain future in New York City. As they journey across America’s vast heartland in the hours and days immediately following the terrorist attacks, Montine and Omar help each other discover the importance of tolerance, redemption, acceptance and hope.
TWIN TOWERS is an Academy Award-winning short film, directed by Bill Guttentag and Robert David Port, that shares the true story of the profound courage of two brothers, one a New York City policeman and the other a fireman. The footage, originally shot for a Dick Wolf reality pilot about a New York City police squad, became the basis for the powerful documentary. The film was awarded an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2002.