Independent Film News

The Other 9/11 Film at Tribeca

While United 93 fills the press spotlight at Tribeca this week, the whispers around another 9/11 film are starting to grow. Civic Duty, a film by newcomer Jeff Renfroe, is the story of an accountant obsessed with conspiracies and cable news post 9/11. When an Islamic man moves in next door, his obsession and suspicions get out of hand. The film stars Peter Krause (of Six Feet Under), Richard Schiff (The West Wing) and Egyptian movie star Khaled Abol Naga as the neighbor.

The film--a supsense-ridden political thriller--is a far cry from the patriotism and courage on display in United 93, and was made on a much smaller scale. With $1.2 million budget, it's just starting to make rounds at festivals. Naga and Krause, according to a Reuters story, couldn't be happier to stump for it. Naga, in particular, appreciates the twist Renfroe put on this terrorist film. "Middle Eastern and Egyptian actors usually only get to play terrorists, but in this movie I got to be the terrorized one. That was a refreshing twist," he said.

The plot, according to the article, never spells out if the accountant's suspicions are founded. Renfroe took care in that regard, and the film's ambiguous nature is exactly what he hopes draws in audiences. "If we'd gone out and made this really heavy, dark, political movie I'd be afraid that people wouldn't go to see it and that it would preach."

Posted by Lisa on April 28, 2006 03:30 PM
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