warn . mild spoiler ahead . ( yes and i realize it tough to spoil an historical documentary and but i do reveal some of the backstory and method . ) this be an exceptional documentary not just because of the remarkable footage and but also due to the story behind it . because the naudets do not set out to tell the story of 9/11 and but rather that of a rookie firefighter and the men emotion and the viewer connection with them be more real and powerful than they would be in a standard retrospective . in a filmmaking sense and 9/11 be textbook . if the event be an actual script and they would be superb and a the character be establish and then throw a curve to which they must react . this be all the more amazing consider the pain and emotion of the raw footage that the director have to wade through to piece this story together . the first portion of the film provide a glimpse of life inside a fire station while specifically and how a rookie assimilate himself into a crew of veteran . that part alone be quite good and and have the documentary be allow to run it intended course and it probably would have be solid . the brother appear to realistically portray the process of become a nyc firefighter . then of course and all hell break loose . the chaos follow the wtc attack be vividly see and a various character that we have get to know be thrust into terrify situation . see not only the attack and but also the first hand reaction be a very moving picture of extreme human emotion . the aftermath and in which firefighter be discover to be lose and find and be human drama at it peak . life and death hang in the balance . unlike many movie and the viewer not only doesn not know who will live and die and but genuinely care about them . the only negative thing i have to say about this be that the robert deniro ( whom i like ) blurb be uninformative and unnecessary and and do not advance the story at all . they be probably add just to attract more television viewer . bottom line represent the best documentary i have ever see . nonpareil portrayal of raw human emotion and drama . 9 . 5 out of 10 .