Collateral Damages

Casts a somewhat different light on the trauma of 9/11 and particularly on its long, devastating aftermath.

In Collateral Damages, we are witness to heroism, all right, but it's a heroism unsullied by sentimentality.

While much of what is said here has been recounted in previous forums -- the special Sept. 11 episode of TV's "Third Watch" being a prime example -- the redundancy doesn't deprive the commentary of its power.

Even if you're feeling a little numbed by the spate of films dealing with 9/11, make an exception for this important documentary.

Sauret's approach isn't the most artful, but it doesn't have to be. Hearing his subjects speak for themselves is good enough.

The final image of the snow-covered landfill, having consumed the debris, provides a kind of closure for Sauret. But for the firemen, the nightmare continues.

The film's real flaw is its limited focus.