The Rest of Us and the Resilience of a Generation After 9/11

Today marks 24 years since the September 11th attacks, a day that changed our country and the world forever. On that morning in 2001, four planes were hijacked by terrorists, two struck the Twin Towers in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Virginia, and the fourth, United Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers bravely fought back. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost, and the impact is still felt deeply by families, survivors, and all who remember where they were that day.

This week's blog invites you to watch The Rest of Us, directed by Dr. Linda G. Mills, an accomplished artist, author, scholar, and the 17th president of New York University. The film explores the tenacity of students confronting a mental health crisis at Blair University's campus. Set in the Fall of 2001 at the campus of Blair University, amidst the aftermath of 9/11, a diverse group of college students spring into action when confronted by the reality of suicide, which forces them to face a campus-wide mental health crisis. They struggle to make sense of their place in a new world.

The Rest of Us stars Laila Robins from films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), An Innocent Man (1989) & The Boys (2022), and actress Amanda Debraux.  When asked in an interview why Dr. Mills decided to focus on the tragedy that was 9/11, she responded: “I myself had gone through 9/11, at very close range, I had just about then moved to New York, and I saw the profound dramatic impact that 9/11 had on our students in so many different ways, and particularly on our Muslim students. And so I was very interested and felt it was a truly important and neglected area: that we address both the kind of impact of such a world event, a city event, and what that means to young people’s mental health.” 

The cinematic response to 9/11 reflects a broader trend where film and media serve as a medium for collective reflection, healing, and catharsis following traumatic global events. As we continue to engage with these themes, we honor the experiences of those affected and deepen our understanding of the world around us. 

As we mark the 24th anniversary of September 11th, we are reminded not only of the lives lost, but also of the resilience that followed. Films like The Rest of Us provide a way for us to reflect on how tragedy shapes individuals, communities, and future generations. By telling these stories, we keep the memory alive while also opening space for dialogue about healing, empathy, and the challenges we still face today. 

Looking for even more ways to watch and enjoy excellent movies & TV series?!? Head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Grapevine Documentaries, Multicom Entertainment, and TheArchive. These channels are dedicated to aficionados and lovers of cinema. You’ll find rare, retro, and restored films and TV, ranging from indies and series to Oscar-winning docs, unearthed MOWs, a killer horror library, and MORE!  

TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series to Oscar-winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!