If you’re a fan of movies based on true events, you may have heard about the movie “15 17 Paris”, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is based on the true story of three American friends who stopped a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris on August 21, 2015.
But the question is, is the movie 15 17 Paris a true story? Let’s find out.
Background of the Story
On that fateful day in 2015, three childhood friends from Sacramento, California were traveling in Europe together. Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler were all childhood friends who had known each other since their school days. They were on a backpacking trip through Europe when they boarded a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris.
The Attack
During their journey, as the train was passing through Belgium, an armed man named Ayoub El Khazzani emerged from the bathroom and began firing an assault rifle at passengers. Khazzani was carrying over 300 rounds of ammunition and had several weapons with him.
The three friends immediately sprang into action and tackled Khazzani to the ground. They managed to disarm him and tie him up before he could cause any further harm.
Aftermath
The three Americans were hailed as heroes for their bravery and quick thinking in preventing what could have been a major tragedy. They received numerous honors including France’s highest decoration, the Legion d’Honneur.
The incident also sparked controversy as it raised questions about security measures on European trains and immigration policies. The attacker was found to have ties to radical Islamic groups.
The Movie
In 2018, Clint Eastwood directed a movie based on this true story titled “15 17 Paris”. In an unusual move, Eastwood cast the real-life heroes as themselves in the movie. Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler played themselves in the film.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Some praised Eastwood’s decision to cast the real-life heroes while others felt that it made for an awkward and stilted performance.
Conclusion
So, is the movie 15 17 Paris a true story? Yes, it is based on a true story of three American friends who stopped a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris. The incident was widely covered in the media at the time, and the three friends were hailed as heroes for their bravery.
Whether or not you should watch the movie is up to you. But if you’re interested in learning more about this incredible act of heroism, then it’s definitely worth checking out.