“We all did it. ­We all survived,” said Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

“Sully,” written by Todd Komarnicki and directed by Clint Eastwood, is a depiction of the US Airways Flight 1549’s emergency landing in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009. The film made its U.S. premiere on Friday.

Sully, Flight 1549’s pilot portrayed by Tom Hanks, and First Officer Jeff Skiles, played by Aaron Eckhart, prepared for another day in the air, transporting 155 passengers and crew from New York City to Charlotte, Georgia. Shortly after takeoff, the plane collided with a flock of birds, destroying both engines, causing the pilots to quickly assess how they would land the plane safely with limited altitude to work with.

The story is told through a series of flashbacks as both pilots face investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) after a computer simulation suggested that the plane could have made it back to the airport safely. ­

Hanks’ empathetic performance allows audience members to connect with his character beyond the title of an American hero. He is a human who was just as frightened as the passengers.

Watching Sully experience and work through the rush of emotions following the landing makes the character all the more admirable and relatable.

While the majority of the country sees him as a hero, the NTSB plants a seed of doubt in the captain’s mind. Media attention gives Sully great cause to be overwhelmed and frustrated with the situation.

Hanks’ character, who remained calm and collected during the panic, slowly begins to question the decisions he made in the air.

These emotions seep into the relationship with his wife Lorraine, portrayed by actress Laura Linney. She must grieve and reflect alone from their home in Georgia.

Sully experiences episodes of post traumatic stress disorder through nightmares, all resulting in Flight 1549 colliding with the Manhattan skyline, while those closest to him remind him that all 155 people survived that day thanks to him.

“We did our jobs,” Sully says to Skiles, “I’m proud of that.”

The film is an emotional salute to the human race and the power of banding together in a time of need. ­

As we are taken back to the 208 seconds Captain Sully has to land the plane, we are shown the response from the Coast Guard, NYPD Divers, NYC Fire/EMT and the Red Cross to get passengers from the freezing water to safety. ­

Watching boat after boat surround the sinking aircraft sent goosebumps up both my arms. ­It was nearly impossible for my eyes not to fill with tears as the boat crew pulled passengers from the rafts, and as volunteer after volunteer wrapped each passenger with a blanket and warm smile. ­

They weren’t tears from sadness or relief. They were tears of amazement─ like when seeing the Valley from the top of a mountain or seeing the ocean for the first time.

Watching the human race from all walks of life help one another and bring Flight 1549’ passengers home to their families was breathtaking.