St. Louis, MO—August 24, 2021—Among the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, were more than 100 expectant fathers. Two decades later, their children are coming of age. On the 20th anniversary of the events, a new documentary focuses on the stories of seven children whose fathers died that day and reveals how an entire generation was shaped by the tragedy and its aftermath.
Generation 9/11 premieres on Tuesday, August 31, at 8 pm. Watch live on Nine PBS or stream for a limited time on ninepbs.org and the PBS Video App.
Born at the dawn of the 21st century, they arrived in a world where the 9/11 attacks initially drew the nation together. But by the time they entered high school, the U.S. was more divided than ever. Now entering adulthood, they carry a new sense of responsibility.
Following its protagonists from diverse backgrounds, Generation 9/11 combines new footage, family photos, and home archives. The film documents what happened to this unique group and their families in the 20 years following al-Qaeda’s attacks. Weaving together shared chapters in the children’s lives—first days of school, 9/11 anniversaries, discovering how their fathers died, and more—the film also provides a lens through which to look at the broader world during the last two tumultuous decades.
“The world, not just America, was forever changed as a result of 9/11 and its aftermath, and we wanted to explore that ongoing global impact in a direct, personal way,” says Bill Gardner, vice president, programming and development, PBS. “These young people and their families have been shaped by 9/11 in a variety of intimate ways, and their openness to sharing their lives allows us to thoughtfully explore the nuances of the 20 eventful years since that terrible day.”
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