September 5’ Film Recreates the Munich Olympics Tragedy and Its Journalistic Dilemmas

The new film ‘September 5,’ directed by Swiss filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum, delves into the tumultuous events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, specifically the Munich Massacre. The movie focuses on the ABC Sports team that found themselves at the epicenter of a tragic and unprecedented news event. On September 5, 1972, terrorists from the PLO-affiliated Black September group took members of Israel’s Olympic team hostage, leading to a devastating outcome that resulted in the deaths of 11 athletes.

The film is set almost entirely within ABC’s Munich headquarters near the Olympic Village, capturing the claustrophobic environment and the intense professional drama faced by the team. The cast, including Peter Sarsgaard as Roone Arledge, John Magaro as Geoffrey Mason, and Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader, portrays the moral and ethical dilemmas that the journalists encountered. The team had to navigate hard choices, such as whether to broadcast the hostages being murdered on live television and how to prevent their coverage from interfering with rescue efforts.

The film is notable for its attention to detail, particularly in depicting the analog technology used by the ABC Sports team. It incorporates actual broadcast footage from the day, adding to the film’s immediacy and authenticity. The cinematography by Markus Förderer and post-production tweaks that mimic 1970s film stock further enhance the film’s historical accuracy.

Peter Sarsgaard, in an interview with The Daily Show, highlighted the relevance of the film’s themes to contemporary journalism. He discussed how the events of September 5, 1972, marked a turning point in live news coverage, raising questions about the role of live television in reporting crises that are still pertinent today.

‘September 5’ is already generating critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture-Drama. The film opens in select theaters on December 13, 2024, and will be released nationwide on January 17, 2025.