Washington --In 33 minutes or less, American life as we know it could be forever altered. That's the time it would take a ballistic missile from North Korea or any other foreign foe to strike New York, Los Angeles, Boston or another major U.S. city.

And that's the gripping subject of "33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age,"  a one-hour documentary from The Heritage Foundation.The leading Washington think tank will screen the high-definition film Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Charles Hotel, Harvard Square, One Bennett St. in Cambridge.

After the movie, James J. Carafano, Ph.D., a noted homeland security analyst and director of Heritage's Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, will discuss recent developments and field questions from the audience. Carafano appears in and helps narrate the film.

"33 Minutes," featuring previously unseen military footage, powerful graphics and interviews with defense experts and veteran public servants, examines how vulnerable America is to missile attack - and what needs to be done to achieve a comprehensive defense against the unthinkable.

Carafano and other Heritage analysts have warned that despite the growing danger from North Korea, Iran and other rogue states - and contrary to popular misconception - the U.S. government does not have systems in place capable of defending against all missile attacks on American cities.

The event, which begins with a reception at 6, is free but registration is required. Register online at www.myheritage.org/Cambridge.For information, e-mail specialevents@heritage.org.

Among outside analysts appearing in "33 Minutes" are:

• Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering III, former director of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency at the Pentagon.
• William Graham, a national security expert who previously was a Pentagon consultant and science advisor to President Reagan. who sat on both the House and Senate armed services committees.
• Robert Joseph, a veteran U.S. arms control expert who now is a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy.
• Ken Alibek, a former Soviet expert in biological weapons who is executive director of the Center for Biodefense at George Mason University.
• Richard K. Betts, a longtime Brookings Institution scholar who is a specialist in national security policy at the School of International and Public Affairs.
• Margaret Thatcher, prime minister of Great Britain from 1979 to 1990.