*Editor’s Note: Excerpts of this review could be perceived as expressions of personal views on matters of current public debate and consideration. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Irish Film Critic.
During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, an American sports broadcasting team must adapt to live coverage of the Israeli athletes being held hostage by a terrorist group.
“September 5” is based on the true story of the kidnapping and execution of the Israeli Olympic team carried out by the militant group Black September during the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. The operation was conducted after the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) took heavy losses by King Hussein in Jordan, causing the Palestinian resistance group to splinter, which led some former members to create the Black September group. Though fractured, Black September carried out assassinations of high-ranking Jordanians and Israelis until the group concocted an attack that the whole world would witness. While ABC Sports News was covering the Olympics, the stage was set as they were the only outlet broadcasting while gunshots in the nearby Olympic village rang out.
“September 5” attempts to position itself as unbiased by just presenting the facts, yet it ignores any context on the previous 25 years of Palestinian history. Since 1947, when Israel occupied Palestine with the backing of the British government, Palestinians have suffered under a settler colonial rule that, to this day, has been governed by a Zionist apartheid administration. This film intentionally fails to explain or inquire why a Palestinian resistance group would commit an atrocity that took the lives of unarmed Israeli settlers. But the film does provide context on the Holocaust due to the games taking place in Germany only less than 30 years after the horrific tragedy and the catastrophic WWII coming to an end.
One of the only things director Tim Fehlbaum does right is utilize hand-held cameras with a very – in the moment – immersive approach that gives an appropriate sense of urgency to the story. Its small but talented cast consists of Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch, all playing different members of the ABC Sports crew. They face internal and external challenges as they navigate the ethical balance of covering breaking news while not wanting to broadcast offensive material but hoping to showcase the truth. The news team makes some questionable decisions, like sending in a technician to go undercover as an athlete, smuggling in film reels, and a camera to secretly shoot the events inside the cordoned-off Olympic Village.
One of the only admirable moments of “September 5” was when ABC prematurely announced the crisis was over. It is commonplace for the media’s need to get a breaking story out to the public before corroborating the facts. As the film came to its conclusion, I kept wondering why it needed to be made. These details were thoroughly explored – with a lot more panache – in Steven Spielberg’s “Munich.” While “Munich” compellingly captured the events, “September 5” felt like a retread and was utterly boring. And being a boring film is one of the most offensive things you can be. This film tries its darndest to be profoundly dramatic, with characters dramatically stopping on the phone to declare “Oh God,” along with other moments that are too hamfisted to be taken with any modicum of sincerity.
At the time of ABC’s broadcast, over 900 million people were captivated by the events. Today, many people are atomized by social media and skeptical of the mainstream media, which spins narratives by deciding who is a victim or who is a terrorist. Just like in “September 5,” corporate news continually frames Israeli settlers as victims or people who are just “defending” themselves. At the same time, any mention of Palestinian resistance is labeled as terrorism. If you seek a nuanced narrative on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I suggest changing the channel.
Now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital
