By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
The tragic events of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany when Palestinian terrorists from the group Black September took eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage, are well-known. Two were killed immediately, and the remaining nine died during a failed rescue attempt.
This heartbreaking incident has been the subject of films such as the Oscar-winning "One Day in September" and Steven Spielberg's "Munich."
Now, director
Tim Fehlbaum ("The Colony") offers another perspective on the tragedy with
"September 5." Written by
Moritz Binder ("Alles Fifty Fifty"), the film not only focuses on the victims and terrorists, but the tense behind-the-scenes moments of an ABC News team broadcasting the crisis live.
The result is a nail-biting and thought-provoking drama that explores the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists during a global catastrophe.
The film opens in the Olympic Village during the terrorist siege, immersing viewers in the chaos. From the control booth, the ABC News team—led by anchor Jim McKay (Mathias Schum)—grapples with how much to reveal to the public as the situation escalates. The tension between the need to inform the world and the responsibility to protect the hostages is palpable, and Fehlbaum expertly highlights the moral complexities of live broadcasting during such an emotionally charged event.
"September 5" also does an excellent job of depicting the pressure faced by the media team, showing how the live broadcast became a tool both for delivering the news and, inadvertently, for fueling the terrorists' objectives. As the world watches, the journalists are forced to confront their own complicity in the violence unfolding on screen.
The filmmakers use this to ask important questions about the role of the media in global crises: To what extent should the truth be reported, and at what cost?
The performances are strong across the board, especially Peter Sarsgaard as Roone Arledge, the president of ABC Sports, and Leonie Benesch as a German interpreter who winds up being a much bigger and important player than she ever imagined. John Magaro delivers a standout performance as Geoffrey Mason, the producer forced to make quick, high-stakes decisions during the ordeal.
Fehlbaum's direction is focused and efficient, and the film’s pacing—highlighted by sharp editing—heightens the sense of urgency. As the situation inside the Olympic Village deteriorates, the newsroom dynamics serve as a microcosm of the broader ethical questions surrounding the media's coverage.
The movie includes some subtle but powerful commentary on the consequences of sensationalism in modern journalism. "September 5" is set in 1972, yet many of the questions raised about broadcast journalism ethics and the responsibility of news outlets to their audiences, feel particularly relevant even in today's media landscape.
“September 5" is a chilling look at one of the darkest moments in Olympic history. Even though we know the tragic outcome, this film keeps you on edge all over again.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
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"SEPTEMBER FIVE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
