SEPTEMBER 5

Germany/US, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Benjamin Walker.

Directed by Tim Fehlbaum.

September 5,1972 was a significant date for terrorism in the 20^th century, the Munich Olympic Games, the attack on the Israeli team in the Olympic village, the terrorists, the transition to the airport, the deaths.

The theme was taken up by the American telemovie already in 1976, 21 Hours at Munich with William Holden as the German police chief. Documentary maker, Kevin MacDonald, won the Oscar, 1999, for One Day in September, interviews with many participants, including the last terrorist survivor, Jamal Al Gashey. Steven Spielberg directed a dramatic recreation of the covert operation to eliminate all involved, Munich, 2005.

This film has a different focus, the television media challenged by the events happening in real life and actual time. It is noted that this was the first International satellite linking televising a world event, more people watching the Games than the moon landing three years earlier.

While the drama does focus on the Israeli team, the attack, the terrorists, the tensions, the audience is taken into the ABC production area, the personnel involved, various responsibilities, directing, camera choices, the need for translation from the German for the Americans. Veteran journalist Peter Jennings, his young days, was inside the Olympic village. And the connection was with television host, Jim McKay – and the film using a great deal of footage of his actual commentary.

Focus is on the technical aspects, the cameras, the close proximity to the village, getting cameras into the village, confrontations by the German police not used to this kind of terrorist situation, incoming information, sometimes accurate, ultimately, at first from  the airport, not accurate at all, and the responsibility of the executives of what was to go to air or not. And, the initial dilemma, should commercial television be screening live-action killings.

Television reporting footage has developed substantially in the succeeding half-century. But, this is an opportunity to go back, to learn about the past, television possibilities and developments, and, in the light of 21^st-century terrorism, especially in Israel, events in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, to be continually alert.

1. The date, 1972, the Munich Olympic Games, the terrorist attack, the disaster, the role of the media, world communication?
2. The focus on ABC television, the studio, the technology, the cameras, the editing, the challenge, the first international networking, the studio opposite the Olympic village, the building with the Israeli athletes? The pace of the production work?
3. Audience familiarity with the situation, the terrorists, the attack on the Israeli team, the initial deaths, the masked terrorists, the transfer to the airport, the initial hopes, the deaths of everyone?
4. The technical effectiveness of this film, the personnel in the studio, the work, times and demands, decisions, positions of cameras, editing and focus, sending the camera personnel out, the police cordons, getting through? Peter Jennings and his position, inside the village, connecting with him? The use of the material from Jim McKay from the time? The connections, his commentary, sense of urgency?
5. The importance of Marianne Gebhardt, language, translation, the German experience, memories of the war, the Berlin Olympics, the action, translating, going out and making contacts, reporting in, giving information?
6. The key central figures in the studio, Arledge in charge, his presence, decisions, intervening, responsibilities, moral issues, issues for the public and the audience? Geoff, (and the actual Geoff being a producer on this film), experience, having to take responsibilities, the timing, the discussions with Marvin? The issue of filming terrorists killing people on live television? The responsibility to the Israelis, to the public? , His French background, criticisms? The African-American reporter, posing as an athlete, moving in and out with the film? The American national athlete, the interview with his father? Including the interview with the athlete? The pressure on Geoff, succeeding in the programming, his decisions, clash with Marvin, the information that the athletes were safe, then the contrasting news?
7. The film not focusing so directly on the athletes, those killed, the terrorists? The glimpses? The situations being described, in the village, the shootings, the uncertainties, to the airport, seemingly safe, and the truth?
8. The significance of this film in the 21^st-century, 50 years after the events? The extraordinary developments in technology and communication? Subsequent history of the state of Israel, the Palestinians, 50 years of clash, occupation of Gaza, the West Bank?
9. The audience with this film and the wide variety of cultural, political, ideological perspectives?