Screened in the spacious, ornamental Regent Theatre, United 93 is a film you already know the conclusion to.

The film is told in ‘real time’, recreating from the beginning the hijackers’ start to the day, arrival at the airport, the take off, the nervous take over of the plane, through to the final upheaval at the hands of the passengers.

Cut in between the scenes on United 93 are scenes from Boston, New York and US air traffic headquarters, and even NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command). These scenes are generally chaotic, and show bureaucracy at work; communication is scattered like Chinese whispers between the agencies.

The cast is free from any ‘name’ actors, which works to the film’s advantage. As an audience, we are drawn into believing that this is not a glamorous re-enactment of the events of September 11. Instead, the film chooses to present the material in a documentary-like manner.

Obviously there is a large part of the film based on the small pieces of information that is known about United 93. As the only plane that did not reach its target it has long been told that the passengers fought back.

United 93 creates the feeling of being on that plane so well that I even found myself beginning to get anxious as I always do when flying. It is ultimately a thought-provoking film. Writer and Director Paul Greengrass (Bourne Supremacy) has been incredibly careful with the sensitive material and created a film that aims to find some hope from the tragic events of September 11, by using the passengers of United 93 as a means of conveying bravery amidst a situation of terror.

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