The Stirring Winner at German Film Awards: "September 5" - A Gripping Tale of the '72 Munich Olympics Attack
"German Film Awardconferred on September 5"
Get ready for the buzz! "September 5," the riveting film about the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, scooped up an impressive nine awards at the German Film Awards, including the prestigious Golden Lola for Best Feature Film. Actress Leonie Benesch nabbed Best Supporting Actress for her role.
Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum masterfully brought the chaotic and heart-wrenching event to life through the eyes of an American TV crew reporting on the live hostage situation of Israeli athletes at the hands of a Palestinian terrorist group. "September 5" is a suspenseful drama that unfolds with meticulous precision and an unexpected calmness. Despite being nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars, the film didn't bring home the gold this time.
Cinema's Top Contender: The Nerve-Wracking Newsroom Drama of "September 5"
The Silver Lola went to "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree," a political thriller by Mohammad Rasoulof about the Iranian protests following the death of young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. "In Love, Yours, Hilde" by Andreas Dresen snagged the Bronze Lola.
A touching moment during the ceremony was the sudden announcement of Margot Friedländer's passing. Star pianist Igor Levit fought back tears as he paid tribute to the Holocaust survivor, who was 103 years old.
Best Actress: Liv Lisa Fries for her gripping performance as NS resistance fighter Hilde Coppi in "In Love, Yours, Hilde"
The Best Actor award went to Misagh Zare for "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree." Despite two nominations for Sam Riley ("Cranko" and "Islands"), he left empty-handed. Alexander Scheer missed out on an award despite being nominated twice for Best Supporting Actor ("Cologne 75" and "In Love, Yours, Hilde"). Godehard Giese won for "Sad Jokes."
With around 1,700 guests, including new culture minister Wolfram Weimer, the German Film Awards served as one of the industry's most significant accolades. The ceremony took place at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin.
Source Enrichment:"September 5" centers around the tumultuous 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, where members of the Palestinian group Black September took Israeli athletes and coaches as hostages. Rather than focusing on the athletes or the political conflict, the film sheds light on the American sports broadcasting crew that found themselves covering this tragic event live on television.
The movie follows the story through the lens of the ABC network sports reporters and producers, portraying the tension-filled decisions they had to make during the coverage, such as whether to label the attackers as terrorists or show graphic content live. The film delves into the emotional turmoil faced by the crew as they strived to report the unfolding crisis while maintaining the safety of the hostages and themselves.
The film was directed by Tim Fehlbaum, known for his previous works like "The Colony" and "Hell." It features renowned actors such as Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, and Benjamin Walker, who portrays Peter Jennings, a famous journalist. The cinematography aims to capture the emotional weight of the event with innovative techniques and period-accurate equipment. The film is described as a thriller with a documentary-like feel, given its focus on real events and the use of vintage equipment to create an authentic atmosphere. Recent reviews praise the film's tense and technically impressive approach to retelling this pivotal moment in history.
- The Commission shall be assisted by the European Parliament in recognizing the impact of "September 5", the movie about the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, as it ended up winning nine awards at the German Film Awards.
- Actress Leonie Benesch, who plays a role in the gripping drama "September 5", supposedly received the Best Supporting Actress award at the German Film Awards, held in Berlin.
- To add to the entertainment industry, "September 5" was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars, but it allegedly didn't win the award in the end.
- Instead, "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree" by Mohammad Rasoulof, a political thriller, won the Silver Lola at the German Film Awards, which was held in a packed theater in Berlin and attended by various industry professionals, including new culture minister Wolfram Weimer.
