9/11 First Responder Documentary

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern Nov 18, 2008

Combining the emotional effects of 9/11 portrayed in Mike Binder’s film Reign Over Me and the physical effects portrayed in Michael Moore’s Sicko and Heidi Dehncke-Fisher’s Dust to Dust: The Health Effects of 9/11, John Citara describes how his life changed forever on September 11, 2001. After witnessing the destruction of the World Trade Center on television, he left home in Pennsylvania to volunteer as a first responder at Ground Zero.

A former teacher of disabled children and construction worker, he helped amid the chaos including search and rescue. Like other volunteers, he wore a white cloth mask designed to protect him from household dust, but not against toxic chemicals burning in the ruins. Since then, he’s been coughing up blood, vomiting foreign particles, and living in constant pain. Unable to work or obtain adequate healthcare, this single father of a toddler struggles to get a diagnosis and treatment that will save his life.

For years, filmmaker Brian Johnson was interested in health effects on 9/11 first responders. Licensed mental health counselor Judith Rubinger recognized the importance of sharing Citara’s story with the public, and introduced the two men. Shooting in Florida, Johnson completed principal photography on the documentary in November, and plans to finish in spring 2009. Assisted by Full Sail University film students Art Brainard and Craig Bethel, Johnson and Citara hope to accomplish several goals through this currently untitled film:

Let’s hope this compelling human drama has a happy ending.