Movie Man: 'September 5' explores historic coverage of 1972 Munich Terrorist Attack

September 5 tells the true story of an American sports broadcasting crew who found themselves covering a hostage crisis during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. News 9's Movie Man Dino Lalli spoke with director Tim Fehlbaum.

September 5 documents ABC Sports’ intense coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the Palestinian militant group Black September took Israeli athletes hostage. The film offers an intimate look at the control room as ABC producers, directors, and top executives navigated the unprecedented tragedy in real-time.

Writer-director Tim Fehlbaum said that limiting the film’s focus to the TV control room and adjacent spaces actually enhanced the storytelling. “A certain restriction in perspective, in location, and time can sometimes lead to ... a more interesting result,” he said.

The film highlights the overwhelming pressure faced by producers like Geoffrey Mason, who served as a consultant for the film. Actor John Magaro, who portrays Mason, described the chaos: "They were just doing their job. There was no time to think, they were putting out fires as they came." Magaro said. "We have to remember these were sports broadcasters who were thrown into (a) unprecedented situation."

Despite the lack of time for reflection during the coverage, Magaro noted that it wasn’t until after the event that the gravity of the situation truly hit the broadcasters involved.

The film’s focus remains on the real-time broadcast of the hostage situation, highlighting the moral questions raised by such unprecedented live coverage.

September 5 avoids making political statements, instead shining a light on the journalists’ experience during 22 hours of continuous live reporting. The script is intelligent and raw, with standout performances that make the film both relevant and thought-provoking. This important film underscores a pivotal moment in the history of broadcast journalism.