September 5

Halfway through the 1972 Summer Olympics – held in Germany for the first time since WWII – militant Palestinian terrorist group Black September killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team and took the other nine members hostage.  In return, the terrorists demanded the release of a bevy of Arab prisoners held in Israel.  ABC’s sports staff – on hand in Munich to cover the Olympics – was instantly thrust into the spotlight to cover this harrowing chapter in Middle East relations.

Insider looks

Told from the perspective of ABC Sports, Tim Fehlbaum’s new film “September 5” takes its place alongside “Spotlight,” “The Post,” and “All the President’s Men” as an excellent insider’s look into the world of news coverage.  While “September 5” is not quite in the same league as those others, it is a thrilling you-are-there version of a scary episode in history – one that will never be forgotten by anyone who lived through it.  And even though Fehlbaum could not have known when he set out to tell this story, it is an episode which carries heightened significance given the recent developments between Israel and Palestine.

The principle cast

Peter Sarsgaard plays ABC Sports president Roone Arledge – who would go on to head ABC News, in large part because of his performance under pressure during the Munich games.  Ben Chaplin is second-in-command Marvin Bader, whose propensity for storytelling is shown in an early scene in which American swimmer Mark Spitz wins his then-record seventh gold medal.  Rather than airing the camera following Spitz out of the water, Bader focuses on the German swimmer who’s just lost to Spitz.  He doesn’t switch to the Spitz camera until his parents embrace him.

Best performances

But the best performance of “September 5” belongs to John Magaro (“Orange is the New Black”), who plays Geoffrey Mason, head of ABC’s control room in Munich.  It is Mason who must juggle all the proverbial balls – the demands of Arledge and Bader, ABC News’ desire to take over the broadcast from ABC Sports, acquiring pertinent information quickly and accurately, keeping an eye on German news broadcasts, and so forth.  That he performs admirably under such duress is a testament to the character, but also to Magaro.  Mason even disguises a news associate as an American athlete – complete with badge – so that he can enter the Olympic Village to obtain additional information.

Also strong is German actress Leonie Benesch as the only member of the broadcast team able to translate German to English.  In this day and age, there would be an entire team of multilinguists, but not in 1972.  Her services are so vital during this time of surprise crisis that Mason and Bader have her running all over for information from German authorities.  When she’s back in the control room, she is required to listen to (and translate) every German news broadcast she possibly can.  It’s an “unsung hero” role, and Benesch plays it perfectly.  Her character (and Magaro’s) never lose their cool – although there are plenty of opportunities to do so.

Peter Jennings

Less impressive is Benjamin Walker as ABC News reporter Peter Jennings.  In another move that feels quaint, Jennings was the only member of the news team assigned to the Olympics – and for no other reason than Jennings was an expert on world relations.  Unfortunately, Walker doesn’t look or sound much like Jennings.  Actual footage of ABC’s Jim McKay is used for his vital hosting role, rather than using an actor.

Ethical issues

Fehlbaum’s original screenplay (co-written by Moritz Binder and Alex David) also takes us into the ethical issues faced by the ABC Sports team.  Obviously, the intent or goal is to cover the proceedings live as they occur.  But what if a terrorist kills an Israeli athlete?  Is this to be shown on live television?  Does ABC employ a 30-second tape delay?  Not enough time to set it up.  So, the ethical question remains throughout “September 5.”

Fehlbaum also shows us the now-primitive large-millimeter tape used by the ABC crew throughout the crisis.  Emergency phone calls must be made on landline dial phones.  Nothing is digital.  And the staff performs magnificently under pressure.

German angle

And via the Benesch character, the screenplay also does a good job of putting us in the mindset of 1972 Germany.  This is Germany’s first chance to show the world how far they’ve advanced since the dark days of Hitler’s WWII regime.  Unfortunately for the Germans, not only does this catastrophe occur in Germany, but the victims are (once again) Jewish people.

No time to catch breath

My only complaint is that “September 5” never takes its foot off the pedal, if you will.  There’s no down time; no time for reflection, until the very end.  Remember in “Spotlight” how Michael Keaton’s character assembled his staff the night before the Boston Globe story about the Catholic Priest Scandal first hit newsstands?  Each member shared his or her story of growing up in the Catholic church, and the impact their investigation was expected to make on America.  “September 5” needs a scene or two like this.  I realize the point of this film is to relay the harried, seat-of-the-pants nature of the crisis.  Still, viewers need a chance to mentally re-group; and “September 5” provides no such scene.

Almost great

“September 5” is a strong directorial effort for Fehlbaum – who also made 2021’s “Tides” – and it just misses the mark for greatness.  It is exceedingly entertaining; it’s difficult to take our eyes off the action as it unfolds.  Clocking in at a brisk 94 minutes, there’s no opportunity for a bathroom break in “September 5.”  Hold on to your seats.  This one is a thrilling ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Ray‘s reviews also appear on https://townepost.com/