“September 5” A Gripping, Harrowing Film

Towards the end of last year, a film called “September 5” was released and kind of fell under the radar. The film focused on the infamous Munich massacre, which was an attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, carried out by eight members of the Palestinian militant organization Black September.

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes. 

“September 5” is an extremely intense, intriguing film that should be on everyone’s must see lists. The film delivers a gripping experience that transports viewers back to the chaotic and emotionally charged atmosphere of the infamous 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis.

The film does a great job building tension and keeping viewers on the very edge of your seat even though the event’s outcome is known. To make the film feel truly authentic, the filmmaker’s incorporated archived footage from the actual live footage, aiming to portray a true to life depiction of the events.

“September 5” also provides a very fascinating glimpse into the era of analog television, highlighting the challenges and ingenuity of live news coverage in a pre-digital age. The performances from the actors who portrayed the reporters and the behind the scenes crew also helped bring the authenticity, emotion and intensity to the characters and their struggles in this film.

The film also gives you a look at the ethical dilemmas that live broadcasters and other journalists deal with and also captures the fast-paced, chaotic decision-making process of a news team as they navigate the rapidly unfolding events.

You can currently stream “September 5” on Paramount Plus or rent it through various PVOD platforms.

Trivia: All of the live video footage of the siege and the studio presentation and interviews is the original footage as broadcast by ABC during the crisis, taken directly from the archive. Director Tim Fehlbaum and his team spent months researching the events, and worked with a production design team to create an authentic replica of the broadcasting facility used by ABC Sports on that day.

The film premiered on August 29, 2024 as the opening film at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

MPA: Rated R for language   (running time 95 minutes)