Quotes by Paul Greengrass

“I think its a very rich time for films that are socially and politically aware. Hollywood has got an admirable history of making films about how the world is: think of Vietnam and McCarthyism. I dont think this is any different.”

“Theyll see its been made in a responsible fashion — by serious people. And I hope they will see its making a contribution to a very necessary debate.”

“The events of 9/11 had a massive effect on me, like everyone, and I wanted to use my position as a filmmaker to contribute something so they are not casually forgotten. By honoring the families who lost those they loved, I hope we can ensure that their sacrifice is remembered and hopefully seek wisdom in the future.”

“They all saw it, and they all approve of it.”

“If in this film, it can provoke a little more discussion about where weve come from on 9/11 and where were going to. Then Ill be proud.”

“Is it word-for-word the same? No, of course its not.”

“That final image haunts me -- a physical struggle for the controls of a gasoline-fueled 21st-Century flying machine between a band of suicidal religious fanatics and a group of innocents drawn from amongst us all. Its really, in a way, the struggle for our world today.”

“Why are people saying its too soon? Like the people on that flight, we need to agree about what to do about terrorism. And I think we need to have that conversation now.”

“We expect our movie stars to do extraordinary things, because theyre iconic. But to capture the measure of achievement of those people on that airplane, it was essential to believe they were as ordinary as you or I.”

“Films dont change the world, but they can make people talk. And they can make you look at the world with fresh eyes. This movie provides a credible, authentic portrait of that day, and it allows us to draw some wisdom from it. Wherever you sit politically, we are all in that same stage of being wounded and trying to figure what to do next. Those people on United 93 had the courage to confront what were all dealing with. The question is, do we?”

I think theres something about a character facing the huge problems and challenges of the contemporary world and meeting them with - head on with courage, allowing for darkness and mistake, but ultimately always moral. Thats incredibly, incredibly inspiring, and thats honestly what I think.

Ultimately, if you look at all my films from Bloody Sunday on, theyre steeped in a post-9/11 atmosphere. United 93 is directly about 9/11, of course, but every one of the movies deals with paranoia, mistrust, and fear.

Remembering is painful, its difficult, but it can be inspiring and it can give wisdom.