Unleashing History's Grip: The Dominant Tale of "September 5" at German Film Awards
"5th of September Secures German Film Award"
Grab a seat, butter your popcorn: The heart-stopping "September 5," directed by Tim Fehlbaum, steals the limelight at the German Film Awards with an astounding nine victories, including the Golden Lola for best feature film. Leonie Benesch's gripping performance as a supporting character earns her the Silver Lola.
The 1972 Munich Olympics attack serves as the backdrop for this nail-biting thriller. "September 5," unlike its competitors, presents an enthralling account of the tragedy from the viewpoint of an ABC Sports television crew. The crew, on-site to cover the Games, become live reporters of a terrifying hostage situation involving Israeli athletes and a Palestinian terrorist group. This masterpiece offers a chilling portrayal of a watershed moment in live news broadcasting.
Swiss director Fehlbaum aimed his lens at this historical event, churning out an Oscar-nominated screenplay (best original screenplay) that highlights the complexities of media influence and its impact on audiences. Despite the Academy's nod, the film narrowly missed the win this year.
Entertainment meets politics: The Silver Lola went to the political thriller "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree" by Mohammad Rasoulof. The drama "In Love, Yours, Hilde" claimed the Bronze Lola.
The ceremony was shaken when news broke of Margot Friedländer's passing. The evening took an emotional turn as star pianist Igor Levit paid a heartfelt tribute to the centenarian Holocaust survivor, momentarily disrupting the festivities with a poignant moment of silence.
Who took home what: Misagh Zare was crowned Best Actor for "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree." Sam Riley, doubling down with nominations for "Cranko" and "Islands," left empty-handed. Alexander Scheer also missed his chance at an award despite two nominations for best supporting actor ("Cologne 75" and "In Love, Yours, Hilde"). Instead, Godehard Giese snagged the award for "Sad Jokes." Liv Lisa Fries' signed her name in the record books as the Best Leading Actress for her riveting role as NS resistance fighter Hilde Coppi in "In Love, Yours, Hilde."
Overall, "September 5" is a gut-wrenching, groundbreaking portrayal of a well-known historical tragedy, focusing on the media's influential role during a tumultuous time. With its astounding performances, innovative cinematography, and fresh angle on a tragic event, it leaves an indelible mark on the industry.
- The film "September 5", set against the backdrop of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, dominated the German Film Awards, winning nine categories, including the Golden Lola for best feature film.
- Despite missing the Academy Award for best original screenplay, "September 5" offers a chilling portrayal of live news reporting during a watershed moment in history.
- During the award ceremony, news of Margot Friedländer's passing shook the event, and a moment of silence was observed in her honor.
- The Silver Lola for best film was awarded to the political thriller "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree," while Liv Lisa Fries took home the Best Leading Actress award for her role in "In Love, Yours, Hilde".
