Aerial view of Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, where unexpected visitors once found solace. Several airplanes are parked on the tarmac, surrounded by lush green fields and forested land. The words Gander Newfoundland are written across the top, evoking memories of 9/11s silver linings.
A man and a woman are smiling and standing close together in an indoor stadium, embodying the spirit of 9/11 Silver Linings. The man dons a gray shirt with a blue jacket, while the woman is clad in her own blue jacket. People gather in the background, amid empty seats hinting at unexpected visitors.
A view of a small town with a main street lined with buildings, including shops and offices. Cars are parked along the road, and the skyline is overcast with gray clouds. Yet, like silver linings after a storm, green trees offer a hint of serenity in the distance.

The Unexpected Visitors – 9/11 Silver Linings

History·1 x 53 min·Completed

This film shows a different side of 9/11, and is about people’s capacity for good. It tells the story of Gander, a small town in Newfoundland that became a temporary home for many

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Genre
History
Duration
1 × 53 min
1 × 25 min
Definition
HD
Audio
2.0
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

Everybody remembers where they were on the 11th of September 2001. The world was in a state of shock.  Almost three thousand people lost their lives. 9/11 will forever remain a symbol of evil. – This film shows a different side of 9/11, and is about people’s capacity for good. It tells the story of Gander, a small town in Newfoundland that became synonymous with empathy, altruism, respect and tolerance.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, American airspace was closed and 255 passenger flights were rerouted to Canada. Thousands of people “fell from the sky”, landing in Gander. A town with a population of 9,500 was asked to take in 6,140 unexpected visitors. And they did, for five days, with hospitality, self-sacrifice and compassion. They set up camp beds in schools and clubhouses, and took strangers into their own homes. Housewives cooked around the clock. Among those stranded were people of all nations, ages, religions and social classes. In the hours of fear and uncertainty, people became good friends. Some of these friendships remain to this day. One couple even married.

Among the people we get to know are Nick and Diane Marson who met one another during their stay in Gander, fell in love, and married a year later. They still feel some guilt that they found the love of their lives thanks to one of the most fearful events of recent history.

We also meet Mr and Mrs O’Rourke. Their time in Gander was spent desperately waiting for news of their beloved son Kevin, a New York firefighter. Gander resident Beulah Cooper tells the moving stories of the time the O’Rourkes spent staying with her, and how she tried to help them through their uncertainty over whether Kevin had been killed in the World Trade Center. As Mr O’Rourke says, “We lost our son, and at the same time gained a lifelong friend in Beulah.”

The people of Gander more than rose to the challenge, according to those who witnessed their efforts. They were rewarded with an outpouring of gratitude. However, everybody stretched themselves to the limit. After three days there were no more reserves of strength, and the final two days were torturous.

This film shows that the good in many humans cannot be stopped, even on a day on which some commit the “ultimate evil”. This film may help to focus attention on those people who, on September 11th, were willing to make sacrifices for others and offer humanity, compassion and warmth.

Team

Written & Directed by Werner Boote
Executive Producer Eva Schmidt
Production companies A Co-Production of Terra Mater Factual Studios & Interspot Film
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