SEPTEMBER 5 Afdah is a compelling film that portrays the tragic and violent assault on Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics, executed by the Palestinian terrorist organization known as Black September. While Kevin Macdonald's exceptional documentary ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER provides a thorough examination of the events from multiple perspectives, this new film focuses on the experiences of the ABC sports journalists present in the Olympic Village. Notably, this was the first Olympic Games to utilize satellite broadcasting, allowing live coverage to reach audiences worldwide. Consequently, it marked the first instance of a terrorist attack being broadcast live, predating events such as the attacks in Mumbai and September 11. This unprecedented coverage not only produced iconic images featured in the film but also raised profound ethical questions regarding the role of live reporting in facilitating and potentially recruiting for terrorist activities.
The film begins in the dim, oppressive atmosphere of the ABC sports room, meticulously recreated by director Tim Fehlbaum. The journalists are startled by the sound of gunfire, quickly realizing they are caught in the midst of an attack. They must strategize on how to transport heavy camera equipment to the village to capture footage of the Olympians being held hostage, all while negotiating satellite broadcasting slots to share their findings. In a striking and crucial role, Leonie Benesch (THE WHITE RIBBON) portrays a young German journalist who becomes an ad hoc translator, monitoring police communications and local news updates. Simultaneously, the talented Peter Sarsgaard plays the sports journalism supervisor, who grapples with his home news team, who contend that sports reporters lack the necessary expertise, while he strives to maintain control over "his" narrative.
There are two significant and infamous moments to consider. The first occurs when the journalists come to the realization that the terrorists are monitoring their broadcast and can observe the German police conducting a rescue operation, as the television feed to the apartment block was never turned off. This leads to the memorable image of the hooded terrorist gazing out of the apartment window directly into the lens of the television camera. The second notable moment features an ABC journalist, portrayed exceptionally by John Magaro, who opts to share an unverified report claiming that all the athletes have been released unharmed. His motivation is purely the desire for an exclusive story.
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