Photo Credit to Patriots Day Film

Mariah Eisenhuth

GJSD Reporter

 On April 15, 2013 a very tragic event occurred in Boston Massachusetts at the 117th annual Boston Marathon. On this day, three people lost their lives, 17 people lost their limbs and over 260 people were injured after two bombs exploded 12 seconds apart from each other at the finish line of the race. This tragedy has changed many people's lives to this day and will always be a day to remember in honor of the ones who were involved and who lost their lives.
 

In 2016, Peter Burg, director of a new movie in theaters today called  "Patriots Day" has made a film to inform everyone  what really happened the day of the bombing and also the days following while capturing the terrorists. The movie was made in the exact locations that the accident actually happened including the shoot out, the bombing and also the capture of the youngest terrorist. In some parts of the movie, Peter was able to include real surveillance footage from the local stores located on Boylston Avenue in his film. The footage he included are blended so well into the movie that most people didn't know whether to believe that it was real footage or recreated surveillance footage. Actors were also used in this film to replace the actual individuals involved, but the people who experienced the tragedy agreed to get interviewed for this movie and some actually came to the set and talked to the actors who were playing them in the film and told their story so they were able to base their actions on what they told them. Many innocent lives have been changed and lost because of this tragedy and I believe that Burg made those whose who were involved recognized.

At the end of the movie, he recognized the individuals who lost their lives that day along with a couple of people who were injured and were able to recover from the tragedy. For example Patrick Downes and also his wife were affected by this attack. Patrick's left leg was amputated and his wife lost both of her legs that day. In 2014, they hand-cycled in the marathon together. Three years after the attack, Patrick completed the race at the finish line with his four closest friends with a prosthetic leg. This is only one story; there were many people who were involved and who improved themselves after being affected by this tragedy. Peter was able to show us that these individuals were able to keep this in the past and push day by day not letting those two terrible men destroy their lives as they tried to do. Although they probably thought that they won, in the end it only made these individuals push themselves to succeed in life.   

     Growing up I always enjoyed going to the movies to see new releases; it was just one of my hobbies. Throughout the past 3 years, I saw around 40 or more films in theaters and this is by far the best movie I  have ever seen. I believe that Peter Burg put a lot of time and dedication into this film to make it unforgettable. I'm sure that this film brought back a lot of bad memories to those who were involved and saw the movie but I believe that was not his intentions. It was amazing to be able to see what actually happened on this day in America.The movie itself was very creative and intense at most parts which really brought me to the edge of my seat. I truly believe that this film will win multiple awards for its making. I could watch it over and over. After seeing many people in the movie get injured and amputated, being able to see the people who were involved improve a few years after this tragedy at the end of the movie made me so happy. 

This day will always be remembered in America and Peter Burg did an amazing job making that known by directing this movie. I suggest everyone to watch "Patriots Day". I pay all my respects to those who were involved.