The Space Between, pilot-turned-writer/director Travis Fine's heartfelt film about a flight attendant (Melissa Leo) and a Muslim boy who are forced together in the chaos of September 11, will be shown on USA Network this Sunday, followed by a special presentation of the acclaimed documentary Twin Towers.

(Note: This blog post originally ran as part of our coverage of the 2010 Tribeca Film Festilval.)



Travis Fine directs a heartfelt and poignant narrative feature, The Space Between, about the lives of a flight attendant and the unaccompanied minor she finds herself responsible for after plane traffic is grounded on September 11, 2001. Montine, played by Melissa Leo, is an alcoholic with a dying mother, whose job is on the line due to her frank attitude with customers and crew. In the midst of chaos on that fateful day, and in order to stay on good terms with her job, she takes Omar, a 10-year-old Muslim boy, under her wing.  
 


Omar, played by Anthony Keyvan, is a genius child, en route to a special school in Los Angeles on a full scholarship, leaving his father in New York for the first time. When planes are grounded and everyone watches as the attacks on the World Trade Center transpires, Omar cries in the corner for his father, a Muslim cab driver by night, worker in a World Trade Center restaurant by day. What comes next is a beautiful friendship between two unlikely people who find themselves alone in the world.

Writer/director Fine worked in the entertainment industry before becoming a commercial pilot. One day, while flying a plane on autopilot at 36,000 feet, he started writing the script for The Space Between. His co-pilot became a sounding board for ideas and scenes, his wife Kristine became his producing partner, and over the course of 5 years, The Space Between was born.


Click to watch the trailer:

When Fine pitched the script to Oscar nominee Leo, she jumped right on board. Due to her schedule, however she didn't get any rehearsals—simply a flight attendant costume—to create her character of Montine. Together, Leo and Keyvan created a dynamic that stayed true well after "Cut!" was called. This intimate connection between the characters of Montine and Omar makes the film the tender story that it is. 
Fine shared a story of Anthony's connection to the character: one day when they entered the location used for Omar's apartment, Anthony went and sat in the corner and started to cry. Fine asked him what was wrong and he replied, while wiping tears away, that he was sad Omar had to live in a place like that. The young actor's vulnerability translates beautifully to the screen, as he faces very difficult challenges as Omar.

On the first day of shooting, Fine said his script supervisor turned to him and said, "First shot off. At 9:11 am." Fine said he and crew were stunned, but only reminded further of how necessary the film was. The depiction in the film of both Muslims and the attacks on the World Trade Center was something Fine took great care with and was nervous about. When he screened the film at the Muslim Public Affairs Council the people loved it; Fine has made a film where two very different worlds collide, while managing to remain unbiased and accurate.  



The Space Between is about two people who are both dealing with loss and trying to hold it together, but under the surface they are breaking. Watching them suffer, face life, and find hope in the future through their friendship is a relief and a reward. At the Q&A after the Tribeca Film Festival screening, Leo encouraged everyone to tell their friends to come see this film and support it at the Festival. Rush tickets are available for the remaining screenings of the film. Get there early. It's worth it.

Watch a special presentation of The Space Between on USA Network this Sunday, September 11, 2011.