Film Influencer 2025 - September 5

September 5 is a film I have been dying to see. With great reviews and a film I missed due to limited sessions back in Sydney. Lucky in Okinawa, the film releases were a little behind. Allowing me to see this 2024 historical drama thriller film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Tim Fehlbaum. 

September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, & Leonie Benesch, chronicling the Munich massacre of 1972 from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew and their coverage of the events.

Along with great reviews, the film has received several accolades, including nominations for Best Original Screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards and Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

The tension that builds throughout the entire 90 odd minute run is intense. Mainly being set in the make shift ABC studios at the Munich games.

The pace is fast and furious. The entire cast is excellent, archive footage was specified in the script, setting the tone for onscreen playback in the control room.

Drama ping-pongs back and forth between four principal excellent characters. Peter Sarsgaard as producer Roone Arledge, John Magaro as newbie coordinating producer Geoffrey Mason, Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader, VP of Olympic Operations, & Leonie Benesch as Marianne Gebhardt, the German assistant who larges assists the men in getting the main elements of the story pieced together.

Not only does she translate police radios and news reports, she is critical in bringing the story back to the USA, via ABC.

It is drama on large scale, with exceptional performances by all.

Ahead of the credits rolling, text reveals that the event was the first time a terrorist attack had been broadcast on live television and was viewed by an audience of approximately 900 million, making it one of the most viewed broadcasts in history. Which in this time we are in, is truly scary.

It's maybe not the best time for this film to be floating around, however it's a damn horrific tale of the world watching on in horror. Kind of like now with everyone watching the war in Gaza on their respective devices.

We have come so far, yet learnt so little.

September 5 was excellent, 4 Stars.