“September 5” transports us back to the historically significant year of 1972, during the Olympics in Germany. ABC, in a bold move, continued to broadcast live the 22-hour terrorist attack by militants from a group calling itself Black September. This attack, which tragically ended with the murder of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, is known as the Munich Massacre. The documentary, a gripping blend of dramatizations and actual 1972 ABC TV footage, effectively immerses the viewer in the heart-wrenching 22-hour standoff.
Director Tim Fehlbaum and his co-writers Moritz Binder and Alex David skillfully frame the film around the journalists in the control room. The key actors, including the incredible Peter Sarsgaard as Roone Arledge, the president of ABC Sports, John Magaro as Geoffrey Mason, the head of the control room in Munich, and Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader, the head of operations for ABC Sports, bring a unique and engaging perspective to the narrative.
Another key actor, the translator, who was based on a composite character who speaks both German and Hebrew, is played by the amazing German-born actress Leonie Benesch, who adds a clever layer to the film.
Benesch, 33, said in an interview for The Wrap by Steve Pond in January 2025 that she was raised when Germans were asked to acknowledge the country’s past crimes. That was one reason she learned to speak English without a German accent, saying, “In 2013, when I moved to London, I didn’t want to be recognized as a German. “I wanted to master the skill of sounding like someone not from there.”
Benesch moved to London a few years after acting in her first film, Michael Haneke’s chilling, Oscar-nominated “The White Ribbon,” kicking off her career with a brilliant director while still in her teens. She worked steadily on film and television, including three episodes of “The Crown” as Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, although her notoriety came in 2023 when she starred in “The Teachers’ Lounge,” a German film that was nominated for the Best International Feature Film in the Oscar race.
Other films that come to mind about television journalism include “Network” (1976), “The China Syndrome” (1979), “Broadcast News” (1987), “The Insider” (1999), and “Good Night and Good Luck” (2005). I can recommend all of them as I’ve seen them numerous times. “September 5” gives a personalized view from the journalists’ point of view and the atmosphere of Germany during that period. It’s mind-boggling how this situation even occurred. Using anamorphic lenses, a handheld docudrama style, and a seamless blending of dramatic re-creations and actual ABC footage from the time is realistic and awe-inspiring.
Additionally, ABC anchors Jim McKay and Peter Jennings appear in archival footage from Wide World of Sports. I highly suggest watching the film, which is in theaters now.
Co-Written by Alex David Written by Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum
Directed by Tim Fehlbaum
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Daniel Adeosun, Benjamin Walker, Ferdinand Dörfler
*Paramount Pictures Presents In Association with Republic Pictures, A Berghauswöbke Film and Projected Picture Works Production, In Co-Production with Constantin Film and ERF Edgar Reitz Filmproduktion
Sarah Knight Adamson© January 20, 2025
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