Short film shot in Wilmington highlights boat rescue efforts during 9/11
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — One of the largest maritime evacuations in history occurred on 9/11, and a new short film honoring the rescuers was shot in Wilmington.
“Boatlift 9/11″centers on a lone tugboat as it tries to help people trapped along Battery Park in lower Manhattan after the towers were struck.
Suzanne Delaurentiis produced the film, and said she was inspired by several books about maritime rescue efforts.
If her name sounds familiar, she’s also the cousin to Dino Delaurentiis, who helped bring the first sound stage to Wilmington in the 1980s.
“Jessica Dulong, who was one of the ferry boat captains, wrote a book called rescue at the seawall,” said Delaurentiis. “We had two other folks that had written a book about American Dunkirk.”
American Dunkirk is the term for the rescue, following the original coast guard cutter that arrived at the location and began rescue efforts for hundreds of thousands.
When it came to shooting the film, one of the biggest challenges was finding their set, as the Hudson River was ruled out due to ice cold water temperatures. That lead Delaurentiis to pick Wilmington and the Cape Fear River as her substitute for Manhattan.
The film follows Jan, played by Sofia Helin, who operates a tugboat alongside her daughter Brit, played by Priscilla Elliott, when they see thousands of people standing at the edge of the Hudson River and jump into action.
“Trying to put myself back to that situation, I’ve had to take it like in chunks because it’s really difficult story,” said Helin.
Delaurentiis, who is from New Jersey, lost friends and colleagues on September 11. She said the film honors many first responders who never got the attention as those who went into Ground Zero.
“It makes me think about the heroes and the people that sacrificed so much for people that they didn’t know,” said Delaurentiis. “It was that type of heroism and self-sacrifice that people made for others that day that really sticks out in my mind.”
“Boatlift 9/11” will be available to stream on the Pure Flix Family and Faith streaming service.
