The value of life, and of fitting into a formula

Sometimes the hardest stories to tell are the most important ones.

I think the new Netflix movie “Worth” is a perfect example of this. The movie tells the story of 9/11 and the tragedy’s victims through the perspective of the lawyer in charge of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

While it tells his story, it also serves as a vessel to tell the story of those who lost loved ones to the terrorist attack. The main question it poses is “how much is human life worth?”

While morally, we may have different views and opinions about the answer to that question, there is a legal answer. Kenneth R. Feinberg, the lawyer played by Michael Keaton, starts out viewing the issue as a lawyer. He develops a formula for the compensation fund.

His story is a journey of acceptance and learning his formula is flawed through listening to the families and their individual stories.

While the movie is based on a true story, it isn’t 100% accurate. However, I think it still communicates the core message. It’s one of compassion, grief, mourning and that sometimes rules need to be bent in the name of doing what’s right.

Not everybody fits into the formula. Some had a secret second family that needs the money, others had domestic partners, estranged family members. It isn’t fair to expect everybody to fit into the mold.

Is it more fair to lean on a formula that doesn’t allow room for nuance? Or is it more fair to consider everybody on a case by case basis?

While that’s the main question in the movie, by the nature of the setting we’re getting the stories of victims. For a historical event like this, I think that’s ultimately the point. It tells the hard stories in snippets that are easier to digest so we, the audience, doesn’t get too overwhelmed.

Michael Shine is a contributing writer for the Daily American Republic.