A Day in September

            This film was very well done and won an academy award for best documentary of 1999. I really liked it. It is a survey and explanation and personalities surrounding the Olympic Hostage Situation of 1972 in Munich Germany. It’s research, performed by only five people was surpassingly well founded, and proved to be very strong. The interviews as well, were quite well carried out, and those being interviewed offered their perspective in a very strict manor, not pulling their punches or attempting to look good.

            It follows primarily the life of Andrei Pitzer, the Israeli fencing coach up to that point in his life, being wed not two years and having a new daughter. It is a supreme tragedy as the events unfold, and the message is clear. At times I felt very upset at the absolute boobery of the German authorities, and the countless mistakes they made in negotiations, calculations and strategies.

            It began in Munich as they attempted to show a sort of apologetic candor for the Nazi games of 1936, and so they have a very lax security force, and no real enforcement of rules. I also recall the brief account of the event in the movie Prefontaine, starring Jared Leto, another movie set in the early 70’s. But in any case, the film follows the setting of the stage for the September 5^th tragedy when 8 Palestinians took the 13 Israelis hostage, killing two of them in the process, and demanded the release of 200 captive revolutionaries.

            They finagle themselves through negotiations and end up at an airport trapped between 2 helicopters and being pinned down by snipers. Throughout the movie, the theme of conflicting reports rages, as the authorities in question have no clue what’s going on, and have made no effort in terms of contingency. It is almost as sickening to see the German police operate as it is to behold the Palestinian thugs carry out their disturbing mission.

            The Account of the aftermath is one of the most moving and powerful moments in a documentary I have ever seen, and it will probably stick with me for a while. The whole course of the movie is riddled with steady paced and thought provoking information, and employs many elements that keep ones attention riveted. The ending is incredibly strong.

In all, I would rank this film a 2 (on a scale of 1-2, whole numbers only).