As a lifelong film enthusiast who has witnessed countless cinematic masterpieces, I must say that September 5 is without a doubt one of the most gripping and powerful films I have ever seen. Having lived through the era of satellite television, I can attest to the profound impact this event had on a global scale, and how it forever changed the way we consume news.
On the 5th of September, 1972, a group of eight individuals from the Black September Organization in Palestine launched an attack on the Munich Olympics in West Germany. They took Israeli athletes hostage, culminating in a tragic event that was broadcast live to a shocked audience around the world. Approximately 900 million viewers had the chilling experience of witnessing a global crisis unfold for the first time through satellite transmission. The film “September 5” recounts the desperate efforts by the ABC Sports team as they strive to report an appalling incident that continues to echo today. Exceptionally well-acted and edited, this movie brims with tension, worry, and unwavering professionalism for a heart-stopping 90 minutes. “September 5” is a riveting thriller that competes fiercely for the title of best film of the year.
When the Munich Olympics Became a Hostage Situation
Geffrey Mason (John Magaro), a temporary sports producer for ABC, takes a break smoking outside his rental car before his night duty. As he walks into the control room, he sees tired technicians performing routine tasks to ready for the next day. He replaces an exhausted Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), the VP of Olympics Coverage at ABC, who instructs not to disturb him as he naps in a hidden office. Mason also greets cordially the top boss, Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), President of ABC Sports, before departing. Arledge too asks for privacy until morning. He’s been away from his family, wife, and kids for several days now.
Following some gunfire, Mason steps outside to observe bright flashes coming from about a hundred yards away in the dormitories for athletes. Suddenly, the radio crackles with anxious German conversations. Perplexed, Mason requests help from Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch), a German translator hired to transcribe footage, to clarify the situation since police are hurrying towards the building. Tragically, several Israelis have already lost their lives. In response, Mason swiftly acts, rousing Bader and contacting Arledge who immediately mobilizes everyone, deciding they must go live on air to learn more about this unfolding crisis.
ABC Sports’ Crisis Management
On September 5th, events sprang into high gear barely seconds after the opening sequence. Mason emerges as the principal character, finding himself in a crucible of a situation. He is stationed in the command center. It was smack dab in the middle of the night. History was unfolding right before their eyes. Arledge resists switching to ABC News based in the US. They were live on location and well-positioned to provide real-time coverage. However, Arledge first needed to ensure that ABC Sports wouldn’t lose the crucial satellite slot essential for the broadcast. That was his responsibility.
Mason, who’s still untested, must gear up and assume control over everything. He needs cameras strategically placed, Gebhardt on the radio for real-time German updates, and most importantly, a journalist present at the scene to anchor the broadcast. Peter Jennings (Benjamin Walker) will become a well-known name and trusted news source for many decades following this event.
1972 was a time before cell phones, when gathering and broadcasting crucial information required a remarkable level of dedication and technical prowess. In “September 5,” we follow Mason and his team as they pull off an extraordinary live broadcast, all while maintaining their journalistic integrity. With limited resources and tight deadlines, they managed to uncover the identities of the hostages and share their images on television. This humanized the victims, making them more than just faceless entities in some distant location. The instant impact and emotional resonance this had on viewers is truly captivating.
One of the Best Movies Ever Made
Swiss filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum, renowned for his German movies like “Hell” and “Tides,” maintains a keen awareness of both global political and personal impacts surrounding the events depicted. The Munich Olympics were held approximately three decades following Germany’s World War II surrender and their participation in the Holocaust genocide. Benesch, who delivers an exceptional performance as Gebhardt, embodies the German fear and remorse over permitting such a tragedy to unfold. However, this is eclipsed by the intense anger, rage, and profound sadness of her Jewish co-stars. The film “September 5” features emotionally charged discussions among the ABC crew as they debate on how to portray the attackers. Should they be viewed as freedom fighters for the Palestinian cause or cold-blooded killers? Ultimately, they settle on labeling them as terrorists.
Acclaimed German editor Hansjörg Weißbrich must also be lauded for his vital contribution. He and Fehlbaum constantly cut between roving action outside and boiler room pressure in the control room. Nothing is ever static. The ensemble shuffles between emergencies to track an evolving situation. Uncertainty and confusion has to be wrangled before anything goes live on air. All of this tension is created through skillful editing in post-production. September 5 could have easily become submarine warfare with agitated people looking at monitors and pressing buttons.
To put it simply, it would be no exaggeration to claim that the movie shown on September 5 is one of the greatest 90-minute films ever created. Fehlbaum, his talented cast, and skilled crew behind the camera have crafted a cinematic masterpiece that deserves recognition during the upcoming awards season. I fervently hope that September 5 can be appreciated for its artistic merit rather than being seen as basic propaganda in view of recent heartbreaking events. Regardless of one’s political or religious beliefs, it is a day that will forever be etched in our memories.
On November 29th, the movie titled September 5 is set to hit theaters in the United States. This film is a joint production of BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion, Projected Picture Works, Constantin Film, and others. The distribution rights for this release belong to Paramount Pictures.
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2024-10-30 03:01