PLANT CITY — A new film now playing in Plant City tells the real-life horror of the Pulse nightclub shooting June 12, 2016, through the eyes of those who survived the massacre that left 49 people dead and dozens injured.
An unidentified victim in the indie documentary describes what it was like to be trapped in a bathroom while the gunman, Omar Mateen, methodically killed others also trapped inside the Orlando club that was popular with gays and Latinos.
“As soon as he enters the bathroom it was pop, pop, pop,” the man said. “Roughly an hour and a half went by and he shot again. So we were like, this man is looking to exterminate all of us.”
Charlie Minn, director of the 90-minute documentary called “49 Pulses,” said he was driven to make the film because so many of the survivors of one of the nation’s worst mass shootings were true heroes.
“We don’t hear stories about people using their bodies to shield others,” he said.
Mateen, who pledged allegiance to ISIS, was shot and killed by police. Minn, who splits time between homes in New York City and El Paso, Texas, said he purposefully avoided any mention of Mateen in the film, which also features political leaders and members of law enforcement.
Withholding the killer’s name, he said, may prevent future episodes of such hatred and violence. “That’s just my opinion.”
Minn, who declined to give his age, said another motivation for making the film was to bring more attention to the response by law enforcement, which has been criticized for a standoff that lasted for approximately three hours.
A review by the Justice Department and the Police Foundation requested by the Orlando Police Department found that the response followed protocol, but there were areas where the department could have done better, especially in coordination, communication and organization.
Still, Minn said, the victims deserved better.
“It took over three hours for the shooter to be taken down,” he said. “Thirteen people died in the bathroom because the police acted like cowards and they didn’t go into the bathroom to rescue people … I’m not anti-police, I want to be clear about this. But I’ve got to be honest about it. I just want to get the story right.”
Shot over a six-month period last year, “49 Pulses” debuted recently at a Premiere Cinema in Orlando. The show is expected to run through Wednesday at the Plant City theater, though if well received, show times may be extended.
For the latest dates and show times, check the theater’s website, www.pccmovies.com, daily for a more complete listing, or call 813-719-7600.
Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528.