A balaclava-wearing terrorist steps out onto the balcony of the building where he and his cohorts are holed up with their hostages. As images go, the sight of a member of Palestinian militant group Black September is one of the most chilling and infamous ever seen. Coming in the midst of the 1972 Munich Olympics – the first Games ever to be broadcast live by satellite – it was an image that shocked the world.
The brutal terrorist attack by Black September, when 11 members of the Israeli team were killed in cold blood, is not new to movies. Steven Spielberg brought us his 2005 thriller Munich, a big-scale look at the aftermath. Better yet, there was Kevin Macdonald’s 1999 Oscar-winning documentary One Day In September which unpacked the tragedy with forensic intelligence.
Now we have September 5, the searing new film from Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum. It’s already been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture (in the drama category) and Fehlbaum and his co-writers Alex David and Moritz Binder will compete for Best Original Screenplay at the 2025 Academy Awards. It’s the least they deserve for this propulsive palm-tingler.
Looking at the terror attack from the perspective of the media – specifically the team from American television network ABC, who were present in Germany to cover the Games – September 5 is, first and foremost, a gripping study of the ethics of journalism. There are lots of media movies out there, from Watergate tale All The President’s Men (1976) to Harvey Weinstein takedown She Said (2022) but rarely has there been a film that feels so entrenched in the event.
The film is set almost entirely in the smoke-filled gallery where the ABC crew watch open-mouthed as the attacks unfold. Among them, producer Geoffrey Mason (Past Lives star John Magaro) and his mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), as well as German translator Marianne (Leonie Benesch, from Oscar-nominated drama The Teacher’s Lounge), a character amalgamated from several who were present during this hellish 24 hours.
Joining them is ABC President Of Sports Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) who must decide if what they’re broadcasting is even permissible, as the cameras are trained on the Israeli athletes’ residence, capturing how this horrifying situation plays out in real time. At one point there’s the shiver-inducing realisation that the terrorists are watching (and being influenced by) ABC’s live coverage.
It’s an intense, claustrophobic ride, so much so that when one character finally opens a door to the outside and a helicopter flies overhead, you’ll exhale in relief. A cracking ensemble cast drives the film, but credit Fehlbaum and his team, especially editor Hansjörg Weißbrich, who seamlessly integrates real-life footage (notably of ABC sports guru Jim McKay) into the film.
With the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict still fresh, especially the haunting images the media brought from Gaza, it all makes September 5 feel utterly relevant and resonant. A fresh spin on a difficult topic, it’s a high-wire walk that balances sensitivity and sensationalism. You won’t find a more compelling film this winter.
Details
- Director: Tim Fehlbaum
- Starring: John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch
- Release date: February 6 (in cinemas)