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| Movie Review: Saint of 9/11 Alternate Title: Touched by an Angel
Story: How does one commemorate
next week's fifth anniversary of the attacks at the World Trade Center?
I usually walk downtown and listen to the names being read and weep.
This year I chose instead, to go see a new documentary about Father
Mychal Judge. The iconic image of his lifeless body is seared
into your memory from the photograph taken by Reuters photographer Shannon
Stapleton as he was being carried from the rubble by rescue workers. Father Judge was a Franciscan Priest. He served
in the ministry for 45 years. He was a complicated man who simply wanted
to serve humanity and do God's good works. He was a 23 year recovering
alcoholic and he was gay. His church was on West 31st Street not far
from Penn Station. He worked with AIDS patients when it was not in fashion.
He worked with the homeless. He was also the Chaplain of the NYFD. He
worked for peace. He was a pure and charitable soul. He was joyful,
loved life and everyone in it. Director Glenn Holsten remembers
Father Judge via talking heads. His friends included people from all
walks of life. The director selected a sampling of those many friends
to give us a picture of just what kind of man he was. It is not a great film. But he was a great man
and I am glad that I saw this tribute to a beautiful soul. Predilection: I like documentaries. Soundtrack: Appropriate
Opening Titles: A beautiful sunrise over the Statue
of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.
Theater Audience: I was all alone in my favorite
new theater (the IFC Center).
Squirm Scale: Memories of that black day make me squirm. Drift Factor: I did not drift at all.
Tissue Usage: I wept from beginning to end.
Oscar Worthy: No
Soap Box: I am too sad to prattle on about how I
feel about everything since that awful day. Big Screen or Rental: Not sure you will be able to
find this film anywhere. You can probably rent it soon.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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