SULLY

The film tells the story of a US Airways Airbus landing on the Hudson River and is based on the autobiography written by Chesley Sullenberger (Sully) and journalist Jeffrey Zaslow, entitled Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters.

On 15 January 2009, US Airways flight 1549 takes off from LaGuardia Airport (New York) for Charlotte, North Carolina, with 155 passengers on board. Chesley Sullenberger, a former Air Force pilot and experienced captain, and co-pilot Jeffrey B. Skiles are at the controls.

Two minutes after take-off, a flock of birds, probably Canada geese, crosses the plane’s route and knocks out both engines.

The control tower offers Sully two solutions: to attempt an emergency landing at LaGuardia Airport, the airport from which he had taken off, or to reach the nearby Teterboro Airport.

But the captain realises that in neither case he would reach the destination airport and therefore tries to land in the Hudson River: he succeeds and all 155 people on board are safe.

All right then?

For Sully and his co-pilot, the troubles come right after landing.

Now watch the trailer; then we’ll see which points of the film I think might interest you.

How to watch the film

How does a man react when accused of a wrong choice after avoiding an accident that could cost the lives of everyone on the plane?

Sully and Jeffrey B. Skiles ended up in court, accused of a decision that endangered the lives of 155 people, and that only by chance ended without victims.

Here are the issues I suggest you pay attention to:

• the aggressive attitude of a person interested in proving guilt rather than ascertaining the facts;
• the strength and resilience with which Sully faces the charges, and his ability to remain calm and focused even when all seems lost;
• the speed with which everyone quickly jumps on the winner’s bandwagon, when Sully succeeds in proving that his choice saved 155 lives and proved to be the only one possible;
• the ease with which decision-makers and those who take on the burden of responsibility may be subject to attack;
• the attitude of people who reserve for themselves the privilege of destructive criticism.

This film will inspire you!

Cast

Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Anna Gunn, Mike O’Malley, Ann Cusack, Holt McCallany, Jamey Sheridan