SEPTEMBER 5: A Tragic Event From A Unique Perspective

SEPTEMBER 5 (Blu-ray)

2024 / 94 min

From Paramount

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Being of a certain age, I have a (very) vague recollection of the Munich Massacre casting a dark shadow over the 1972 Olympics. But at the time, I was too young to comprehend that these events were unfolding live on television…and simply because ABC happened to be there for sports coverage. 

For those unaware, on September 5, the terrorist organization known as Black September entered the Olympic village, taking several Israeli athletes and coaches hostage and demanding the release of hundreds of Palestine prisoners. During the course of that day, there were negotiations and failed rescue attempts, and ultimately, everything ended with the deaths of all 11 hostages.

The tragedy has been the subject of numerous movies and television shows before (most notably, Steven Spielberg’s Munich), but September 5 is cut from different cloth. Less focused on the particulars of the terror attack itself, the film is a dramatic reenactment of ABC’s coverage behind the scenes. As such, it brilliantly achieves an urgent, chaotic tone not unlike United 93, exacerbated by superior editing that should’ve gotten on Oscar nomination. 

"You're asking for a raise now?"

As depicted here, coverage begins with ABC Sports president Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) refusing to turn the developing story over to the network’s more experienced news division, stating his team is already on location and able to broadcast live. We feel like a fly on the wall, watching barely controlled chaos as the coverage is often complicated by conflict, miscommunication, ethically questionable decisions and occasional overreaching ambition. 

Being the most recognizable member of the cast, I suppose Sarsgaard could be considered the de facto main character. But really, September 5 is an ensemble piece, its primary players being ambitious control room leader Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), German translator Marriane Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch) and head-of-operations Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), the last of whom sort-of serves as the film’s moral compass, sharply contrasting Arledge and Mason’s competitive drive for exclusive coverage. We may not always condone some of these characters’ attitudes or actions, but we certainly understand them and they’re undeniably compelling

The film is mostly devoid of onscreen antagonists (the terrorists are only seen from a distance). The entire narrative is from the point-of-view of those doing the broadcast, with the ongoing event itself presented primarily through archival broadcast footage. With his sci-fi/horror background, director/co-writer Tim Fehlbaum has seemingly come out of nowhere to put together a tense, fast-paced thriller that presents a tragic event from a unique perspective. Though nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar, how September 5 was largely ignored by the Academy while Emelia Perez racked up 13 nominations is a complete mystery.