One Day in September (2000)
Product Information
Product Details: One Day in September (2000)
- Edition:
- DVD Repackaged. See other editions
- MPAA Rating:
- R
- Release Date:
- 12/20/2005
- UPC:
- 043396133181
- Directed by:
- Kevin MacDonald
- Featuring:
- Ankie Spitzer, Jamal Al Gashay, Gerald Seymour. See all cast
Synopsis: One Day in September (2000)
Synopis: The 1972 Olympic Games, held in Munich, Germany were to be the Olympics of Peace and Joy, forever erasing the memory of the Nazi-controlled Berlin games of 1936. But a combination of inadequate security and profound unpreparedness instead led to 21 hours of terror. As the world looked on in disbelief, an extreme separatist group of Palestinians calling themselves Black September entered the sleeping quarters of the athletes from Israel, killing some of the team members and holding the rest hostage.Features: One Day in September (2000)
Features: DVD Features:Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Surround Sound - English, German
Subtitles - English - Closed Captioning
Subtitles - English - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - Bonus Trailers
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biographies - Talent Files
Production Notes
DVD-ROM:
Web Links - Direct Link to the Simon Wiesenthal Center Website
Awards: One Day in September (2000)
- Academy Awards
- Best Documentary Feature
User Reviews: One Day in September
-
One Day In September
, July 8, 2006Reviewer: Dwayne - See all Dwayne's reviews -
Riveting account of unfolding tragedy
, December 26, 2005Reviewer:
Bohemian Girl PDX - See all Bohemian Girl PDX's reviews Pros: Maintains suspense even when you know the outcome
Cons: Doesn't address how Massad later tracked down & killed the terrorists involved
Even though you know the outcome--11 Israeli Olympians and coaches killed by terrorists--this Academy Award-winning documentary will keep you on the edge of your seat. "One Day in September" depicts the tragic hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Among those interviewed is the one surviving terrorist, who describes his training and how thrilled he felt to be doing something for Palestine.
The recollections of Ankie Spritzer, widow of the Israeli fencing coach, particularly make the viewer experience the horror of having a loved one held captive. Mrs. Spritzer describes how she wondered whether her husband was alive or dead when the news reported than an unnamed hostage had been murdered, and later, her elation at reports that the remaining hostages were safe at the airport, and finally, how she received the horrible news that the rescue attempt had gone terribly wrong. Seeing the daughters who grew up never knowing their fathers brings home the continuing sadness of this event.
Kevin Macdonald's documentary also includes an interview with the head of the Massad who was denied permission to send in an Israeli rescue team and was assured that the Germans could manage the situation. The Massad chief bitterly recalls the numerous unthinkable errors that the Germans made: Extremely light security to avoid the impression of being heavy handed. Failing to seal off the Olympic Village from news crews, which resulted in tipping off the terrorists when an early rescue attempt was broadcast on live TV. Underestimating the number of terrorists and placing insufficient sharpshooters at the airport when the terrorists were allowed to leave with the hostages. Lack of radio communication, rescuers without bulletproof vests and helmets, failure to order the armored cars that were planned to transport the hostages to safety once the "commando" team went into action,.... The "commando" team actually was made up of police officers who volunteered and stated that they were familiar with using firearms--not a specially trained unit.
Most interviewed concluded that the German and Olympic officials were more interseted in resuming the Olympic Games than in rescuing the hostages. In fact, the Olympic officials initially didn't hault the games, despite the early deaths of two hostages.
The three terrorists who survived the assault at the airport never stood trial. They were released in exchange for a handful hijacked airline passengers and crew. "One Day" reveals that this hijacking and terrorist exchange was a set-up.
I watched this documentary in conjunction with "Revenge!"--a History Channel documentary on how the Massad later tracked down and killed all but one of the terrorists believed responsible for the Munich Massacre. "Revenge!" provides more details about the PLO-Black September ties, as well as a Massad assassination against a man who was wrongly believed to have masterminded the Olympic hostage incident.
With Spielberg's "Munich" now in theaters, hopefully this movie will be rediscovered. ...
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Pros: Takes you almost hour by hour through this horrendous tragedy.
Cons: None
I first became acquainted with the tragedy of the Munich Massacre in my freshman year of high school, when I was looking through my history book and saw the most recognizable picture of this terrorist act. It was the picture of a hooded terrorist looking down from the balcony of 31 Connollystrasse. That picture always remained with me and I never knew the whole story, except that 11 Israeli athletes and coaches lost their lives. That is until this documentary was released in 1999.
In this powerful epic of one of the most horrendous and cowardly acts of terrorism ever committed I felt like I was actually watching the live coverage as it was playing out. It gave me a feel for the way it was at the time.
Through the whole ordeal you feel the pain, the fear, and the helplessness of these terrified Israeli's as they wonder what fate awaits them. You learn of the barbaric way that two of them were killed in the apartment and how the others were massacred at Furstenfeldbruck airfield.
It is kind of an ironic reminder of history dating back to World War II. Innocent Jews being led to their deaths because they were Jewish and their enemies wanted them destroyed, much like they were during the holocaust. And it was all taking place in Germany!
One last thing that I took away from this movie was how I got the impression that the West German government was in a haste to get these terrorists out of the country and away from the Olympic Games. They could have done so much more to save the life of the Israeli's, but they chose not to. For example, the Mossad, Israel's anti-terror unit, requested to come in and rescue the hostages, but the West German government denied their request. The final proof I have to prove this point is the fact that on October 29, 1972 a West German Lufthansa 727 was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists who forced the plane to be flown back to Munich where the plane would be blown up if the three surviving terrorists from the Munich Massacre were not released to them. Without consulting Israel the West German government released the three terrorists. Isn't it interesting that no women or children and a small group of men were on that plane?
Was it a behind the scenes deal between West Germany and the PLO? I believe it was, and for this the West German government has the blood of these 11 innocent Israeli martyrs on its hands as much as the PLO. But, you can watch this documentary and form your own opinion. ...