September 5

By Joanna Langfield

Taut and eerily thrilling, this retelling of the tragic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics carries lessons that are as urgent today as they were, decades ago.

Writer/director Tim Fehlbaum reminds us of those terrible days, when the world watched as Israeli athletes were taken hostage in what was supposed to be a peaceful Olympic Village. Or at least the hope was for peace. A lot was riding for the Germans when they secured the games. And the terrorist act, against Jews, on German soil, brought back the very same horrors of World War 2 from which the country was trying to move on. But this is not just a movie about that. Fehlbaum, interestingly, makes the focus not only the story, but how it went out to the world, provided by the men and women of ABC Sports. Yes, ABC Sports. With the exception of a few from the news division, the network had sent its sports division to Germany, expecting business as usual. Of course, what happened was anything but. And the journalists on the scene, as remembered by so many and as documented here, provided extraordinary coverage.

Yes, there are plenty of 70’s references, but the superb camerawork and editing make this feel like a very contemporary thriller. Even knowing the truth, we find ourselves sitting on the edge of our seats, hoping against hope that there could be good news at the end of all this. And, in that regard, the film is, well, entertaining. But its intent is serious and sure. An egoless and excellent cast honors the resolute ABC crew. And while I, an ABC veteran, found the few scenes of actor Benjamin Walker playing Peter Jennings a tad jarring, I more than appreciated the decision to air actual clips of anchorman Jim McKay, whose work was both exemplary and iconic.