Title – September 5 (2024)

Director – Tim Fehlbaum (The Colony)

Cast – Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch

Plot – Explores the true story of the ABC’s ground-breaking live coverage of the 1972 Summer Olympics terror attack in Germany that saw a group of Israeli athletes taken captive by a group of armed fanatics.  

“Whose story is it? Is it ours, or is it theirs?”

Review by Eddie on 05/05/2025

A film that has received ample praise across the board for its tight and taut script, garnering an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay to sit nicely alongside its Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture, September 5 has a lot to like even if it fails to climb to the levels of greatness that lay within its grasp.

Directed and co-written by Tim Fehlbaum who shows great career growth here from his early directional work that didn’t exactly make one feel like we were witnessing the birth of a filmmaker to keep a close eye on, September 5 takes a docu-drama approach to tell the story of the collection of ABC broadcasters that found themselves live streaming the horrific terror attack on the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics when a group of Israeli athletes were taken captive in the athletes village.

Working as both a surface level exploration of the terror attack itself and a more warts and all dive into the behind the scenes decision making and pressure that fell to the ABC staff who found themselves delivering a live broadcast that was eventually watched by 900 million people worldwide, September 5 is a prime example of a non-flabby cinematic exercise that does its job within the confines of a 90 minute running time, putting many similar Hollywood experiences of late to shame as it showcases the virtues of tight editing and refined screenwriting.

Sacrificing character depth and in turn human connection/emotion as it narrows in on the task at hand, Fehlbaum remains resolute in his desire to keep September 5 moving, rarely pausing for breath or reflection as his talented if not exactly box-office draw card cast ensure that his most notable feature yet is one that is sure to get him on the “to hire” list of the big Hollywood studios.

Backed by industry veterans Peter Sarsgaard as well travelled overseer Roone Arledge and Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader, September 5 is jam-packed with recognisable faces and offers the increasingly impressive John Magaro another chance to really shine in the trenches with his turn as Geoffrey Mason the films most standout acting turn, giving the film around him a greater level of intensity and connectivity that ensures many viewers will be more engaged than they would be without him, it’s not long until Magaro delivers a turn in a project you sense will attract him too a lot of fame and fortune.

You wouldn’t say September 5 ends up being an overly memorable or standout experience as a feature film watch but its a prime example of what can be done in a effective amount of time that never outstays its welcome, harkening back to thrillers of old that prioritised the task at hand rather than diverting into subplot and bloat territory that adds little to the grand scheme of things.

Final Say –

It doesn’t rewrite any rulebooks or become a must-see experience but September 5 tells an intriguing story about a key moment in world history, delivering its story in a non-fuss manner that feels like a breath of fresh air in a marketplace that has forgotten the power of a brutal editing process.

3 1/2 grizzled maintenance guys out of 5