Screenplay: | Ned Curren |
Director: | Leslie Libman Larry Williams |
Starring: | Peter Gallagher |
Theme Music Composer: | Mitchell Froom |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Producer: | Amy Kaufman |
Editor: | Cindy Mollo |
Cinematography: | Jean de Segonzac |
Runtime: | 91 minutes |
Company: | HBO NYC Productions |
Network: | HBO |
Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing is a 1997 American television film that depicts the events surrounding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.[1] The film was directed by Larry Williams and Leslie Libman.[2] [3] It stars Peter Gallagher and Marcia Gay Harden,[4] and features Andreas Katsulas as Omar Abdel-Rahman[5] and Art Malik as Ramzi Yousef.[6] The film premiered on HBO in June 1997.[7]
Filming occurred New Jersey and Manhattan.[8]
Upon its release,, the film attracted criticism for how it depicted Arabs and Muslims.[9] A 1997 report by The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states, "[''Path to Paradise''] left viewers with the distinct impression that Arabs and Muslims in general are violent terrorists who will continue to attack Americans. One of the film's clear messages was that Arab immigrants are a threat to the United States and are likely to support acts of terrorism [...] Not once did the film suggest that the overwhelming majority of Arabs and Muslims in the United States condemned the bombing and feared the backlash that it might cause on their communities."[10]
It was scheduled for a repeat broadcast on HBO the week of the 9/11 attacks. HBO pulled it from its schedule following the attacks.[11]