Setembro 5

September 5 is a gripping documentary, but many analysts believed that the 1972 Munich Olympics attack set a precedent for modern terrorism.

The world watched in real-time as the crisis unfolded, and Black September achieved exactly what they wanted: maximum publicity. This was one of the first instances where a terrorist attack was staged with the global media in mind, creating a model that has since been replicated.

The media's role in amplifying terrorism is complex. On one hand, coverage is necessary to inform the public, expose security failures, and hold governments accountable. On the other, the relentless focus on the perpetrators can sometimes grant them the notoriety they seek. This has led to ongoing ethical debates about how journalists should report on terrorism without unintentionally promoting it.

By revisiting September 5, the film not only honors the victims but also forces viewers to confront the enduring complexities of terrorism, security failures, and international politics that remain relevant today.

Performances all believable, comedy in the right places, and a pacing and runtime that doesn't leave you peeking towards the exit before the credits.

For someone who didn't really know the story, the details of what went down truly interested me. They did a solid job of not telegraphing the plot points.

Some may find the lack of change of scenery tiring, but I think it worked in this case. I think they wanted you to feel like the control room is your world, and to feel as they did on this eventful day.

They touched on the political and emotional elements nicely. Making you think, without preaching.

Mixing in footage from the actual event, including broadcast footage as well, definitely draws you more into the experience. A nice touch.

While it's not a movie I really intend on rewatching over and over, it is a very well done piece that I'd recommend to friends who enjoy movies like this.

As "September 5" (2024 release; 95 min) opens, we are watching an ABC promo on how it is broadcasting the 1972 Olympic Games "live and in color" from Munich, West Germany, a first in television history. We then go to the ABC studio right next to the Olympic village where they are just finishing coverage of the day at 4 am Munich time (10 pm New York time). Not long after, gunshots are heard... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from Swiss writer-director Tim Fehlbaum ("Tides"). Here he revisits the terrorist attack on the Israeli team at the 1972 Olympic Games, but strictly told from the perspective of the TV broadcasting team (ABC Sports). Multiple issues are raised, such as: should ABC Sports (on site in Munich) take the lead, or ABC News (in New York)? Should they air a potential killing of a hostage be aired live on tv? Etc. The movie plays out almost entirely from the ABC field studio in Munich and hence feels quite restricted (literally), creating even more tension. The cast is terrific, including Peter Sarsgaard as Roone Arledge (as head of ABC Sports). As you are watching this, it almost feels like all of it is happening in real time, but in fact it isn't (these events took place over almost 24 hrs. In real time). Last but not least, the film has a terrific original score, courtesy of Lorenz Dengel (who has collaborated with Tim Fehlbaum before).

"September 5" premiered at the Venice film festival last summer to immediate and broad critical support. The movie started airing in US theaters in December and is now streaming on Paramount+, where I watched it just last night. It picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. It is currently rated 93% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels a little too generous to me. Regardless, if you want to revisit the horrible events of September 5, 1972 at the Munich Olympic Games, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

I love authentic historic dramas. Especially, in eras in which I have lived. This seems authentic. It's a story of which I am familiar and have seen told in various formats of film through the years.

As stated in the above title, I found this telling most interesting of all.

I saw Spielberg's Munich in the theater years ago and I remember still feeling that it was a bit overlong and bloated. Even boring, I hate to say. And metaphorical to a fault.

This version of the facts is more taut, the run time for this film is shorter, and the clock is ticking in the movie, and the lives at stake.

Also, airtime. You are in the control room of ABC's Wide World of Sports when the tragic terrorist events occur during the Olympics in Germany in 1972.

Cigarettes are smoked. Rotary dial telephones are used for communication.

And there is a major crisis unfolding in the Olympic village.

It's a good history lesson for Gen-Z.

Even appropriate for grade level history in classrooms, middle school and up, I would think but it's rated R, so no.

But history is hardly ever pretty.

John Magaro and Ben Chaplin shine most brightly with their stellar performances.

This is worth a trip to the cinema.

It wouldn't be a terrible idea to bring your high school aged child to the theater with you for this one.

They could stand to learn a little history.

They'll walk out with you afterwards and say, Did that really happen?

September 5 is a gripping retelling of fact based events that doesn't let up on the tension from the moment it begins to really escalate. It offers an in depth look at the commitment of the newsroom broadcasting the events and all of their decisions with the sometimes destructive consequences of them as they choose the wrong wording and prioritise being the first to get the story out over getting it right, minus the consequences.

The whole cast does a great job of saying all the news jargon with a high intensity but the main 3 stand out further. John Magaro rises to the challenge of covering something he never thought he'd have to whilst feeling the most guilty about what transpires, Peter Sarsgaard is commanding and clearly just as interested in personal gain as he is in documenting the events and Ben Chaplin is the most cautious yet still waves away some errors.

Tim Fehlbaum's direction mostly keeps everything contained in the studio to increase the chaos since all the information comes from outside and adds a layer of disconnection. Markus Förderer's tight and mobile cinematography is unwavering which is then combined with Hansjörg Weißbrich's meticulous editing to move at a high speed throughout and ensures the pacing is as airtight as humanly possible.