An Important Film

On Monday night, an important documentary airs on Court TV: "On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 9/11 Commission Report" takes a hard, compelling look at the events of September 11, 2001, as narrated by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank.

I will be watching.

The following are selected parts of the email I was sent about the film:

"On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 911 Commission Report" will premier on Court TV Monday night at 10pm ET/PT, 9pm CT. Court TV is airing a 90 minute version of the film, commercial free. The full two hour version of the film plus additional interviews and a photo montage is being distributed by Lionsgate on DVD. The DVD will hit stores on Tuesday.

The film has received extraordinary reviews. It also made the short list for an Oscar nomination last March. Thanks to Producer Lenny O'Donnell, Christopher Meindl and an extremely talented group of editors--led by Allison MacEwan-- there exists a documentary that takes an historically important and emotionally compelling look at the events surrounding 9/11.

As the NY Post reviewer wrote: "If you see only one documentary about 9/11, make it this one. You may not get all the answers you want, but for sure you'll start asking questions about the answers we were already given. "

Directed by award-winning news and film producer Linda Ellman, the film faithfully captures the events of that day and our civilian and government response, whose strengths and weaknesses are outlined in The 9/11 Commission Report. "On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 9/11 Commission Report" has powerful narration from Costner and Swank and includes sit-down interviews with U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and former U.S. Senator and past 9/11 Commissioner Max Cleland.

While presenting provocative new details and exclusive interviews, the film focuses on the human side of the largest terrorist assault ever to take place in the United States by examining the treatment of the events that led up to the 9/11 attacks and revealing the efforts by a group of citizens who worked together to ensure that the 9/11 Commission would be convened and information disseminated to the public.

“I was in lower Manhattan that horrible day,” said Hilary Swank, “I was drawn to the project by the amazing stories of the 9/11 families and survivors featured in the film, and I am proud that by contributing my voice to the project, I can help their voices be heard.”

“I saw this film in a rough cut and wanted to become involved,” said Kevin Costner. “It’s honest, it’s serious and it’s not political. This film tells stories every American will and should want to know.”