Based on the real events of the 1972 Munich massacre, September 5 follows the intense experience of a broadcast team covering the live hostage crisis during the Munich Summer Olympics. The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival under the Orizzonti Extra section. The film also screened at the 51st Telluride Film Festival, the 2024 Santa Fe International Film Festival, and the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival where it won the Narrative Special Presentation Audience Choice Award.
September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Daniel Adeosun, Benjamin Walker, and Ferdinand Dörfler.
Release Date
Directed by Tim Fehlbaum, September 5 opens in select US theatres on November 29, 2024 and nationwide on December 13, 2024.
Synopsis
“September 5” unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows an American Sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, “September 5” provides a fresh perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time.
At the heart of the story is Geoff (John Magaro), a young and ambitious producer striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). Together with German interpreter Marianne (Leonie Benesch) and his mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), Geoff unexpectedly takes the helm of the live coverage. As narratives shift, time ticks away, and conflicting rumors spread, with the hostages’ lives hanging in the balance, Geoff grapples with tough decisions while confronting his own moral compass.
Reviews
Ryan Lattanzio in an IndieWire review gave the film a score of B, writing, “September 5 works most powerfully as a behind-closed-doors, single-room thriller, even as what we see on a wall of monitors is almost too unreal to believe.”
Matt Neglia in a Next Best Picture review gave the film a 8/10 score, writing, “A thrilling and essential viewing experience, blending outstanding performances with a gripping narrative, and a specific approach that powerfully examines media ethics and its impact on a global audience.”
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for September 5.