US director Oliver Stone came to Beijing for his latest movie World Trade Center last week, saying the pain of the 9/11 attacks needed to be expressed.

Stone is also one of the five international directors who is participating in the Vision Beijing event, shooting a five-minute short film to promote Beijing ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

"It's a shame, but part of our life. Maybe there would have been another movie about it if I hadn't shot it. To see it can be painful, and you can cry in the movie, but pain and crying sometimes is good," said the award-winning director.

Stone said he tried to accurately portray the disaster, shooting a third of the film in New York, but using a Los Angeles set for the ruined Twin Towers and chaotic street scenes. He also persuaded witnesses to recall their experiences.

"It was a nightmare to make the movie because you want to be as realistic as possible, but you cannot really show the pain. It's too much. The audience would go screaming," Stone said.

The two policemen portrayed in the movie were among 20 people rescued from the rubble in which 2,749 people died. Stone said he selected them as the main characters because the story was coherent. "We have the true story now. We have a moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour account which we know is true. I'm still scarred and wounded, but the question should be told as quickly as possible."

(China Daily 11/10/2006 page2)