September 5 Review : Munich Olympics tragedy captured through ABC Studio’s lens in this gripping film

Story: Set against the backdrop of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack, this film explores the crisis through the eyes of the ABC Sports crew, who were on-site to cover the games but found themselves reporting on an unfolding tragedy.

Review: 'September 5' is a gripping and raw depiction of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre through the lens of ABC Sports, capturing the tragic events in which 11 Israeli athletes lost their lives. Beyond the tragedy, the event proved to be a key turning point in television journalism, forever changing the way live news was reported. While the subject has been explored in various films and documentaries, this film offers a fresh and immersive perspective by placing viewers inside ABC’s makeshift newsroom. The network’s sports reporters, untrained in crisis coverage, found themselves grappling with an event of unimaginable magnitude. With its docu-drama feel, 'September 5' brilliantly captures the rising tension within the newsroom, making the audience feel the weight of every second. The screenplay’s tight pacing ensures that the film unfolds like a ticking time bomb, building up to an emotionally harrowing conclusion.

The story unfolds in real time, beginning with Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) overseeing the day’s Olympic coverage. A routine broadcast is interrupted by breaking news—Black September, a Palestinian terrorist group, has taken Israeli athletes hostage inside the Olympic Village. With chaos unfolding, Arledge, producer Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), and operations chief Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) scramble to provide live updates while maintaining journalistic ethics. The pressure intensifies as the team realizes the terrorists and hostages are watching the coverage, adjusting their coverage accordingly. As uncertainty looms over the fate of the captives, the crew is forced to navigate ethical dilemmas, struggling to balance real-time reporting with the responsibility of not worsening the situation. The tension reaches a peak when conflicting reports emerge about the hostages' fate, leaving the newsroom in a state of moral and professional turmoil.

The film succeeds because it respects and honours the gravity of the incident without sensationalizing it. Instead of dramatizing the tragedy, it unfolds through the lens of the ABC crew, allowing the audience to experience the event as they did. Unlike Steven Spielberg’s 'Munich,' which focused on Mossad’s response to the attack, 'September 5' takes a different angle, offering an unfiltered look at the newsroom’s frantic efforts to cover history in the making. The film’s refusal to exaggerate details makes it all the more powerful, relying instead on the real-time reactions of those caught in the studio chaos. It skilfully conveys the ethical tightrope that journalists had to walk, reinforcing the idea that their decisions carried life-or-death consequences.

The cast delivers pitch-perfect performances, adding authenticity to the film’s gripping narrative. Peter Sarsgaard commands the screen as Roone Arledge, portraying the newsroom veteran’s internal conflict and determination with nuance. His standout moments come when he defies network pressure and ensures ABC Sports takes precedence over seasoned news veterans. John Magaro, as the young producer Geoffrey Mason, perfectly captures the energy and mounting anxiety of a journalist thrown into a high-stakes situation. But the real scene-stealer is Leonie Benesch as Marianne Gebhardt, a young assistant whose fluency in German makes her an essential link between the newsroom and unfolding events. Her performance adds depth, highlighting the human cost of the crisis. The ensemble cast works in perfect sync, making the film’s tension feel all the more real.

'September 5' is a masterfully crafted drama that keeps you on edge from start to finish. Director Tim Fehlbaum handles the subject matter with the respect it deserves, delivering a film that is both historically accurate and emotionally resonant. The cinematography effectively transports viewers to 1972, capturing the claustrophobic intensity of the newsroom as well as the eerie normalcy of the Olympic Village just beyond it. The film doesn’t just recount a tragic event—it also raises important questions about the evolving nature of journalism and the fine line between responsible reporting and voyeurism. This film is more than just a gripping historical thriller—it’s also a thought-provoking look at the role of media in shaping public perception, making it an absolute must-watch.