Product: One Day in September [VHS] (2006)
Rating: 5.0
Black "September"
Oscar winner for the best documentary of 1999, "One Day In September" is an unflinchingly, explosively powerful film that should be mandatory viewing. No matter how many times I've seen this film the images still haunt me long after the film is over.Using archival footage, photos, & new interviews with key people involved, as well as, family members, "One Day In September" chronicles September 5, 1972 & the massacre of the Israli Olympic Team in Munich, West Germany home of the XXth Olympiad.From the early dawning hours of the break in at the Olympic Village, to the tragic final hours at the airport, "One Day In September" shows the viewer a raw, unflinching look at what happened during that dark day.Usually, for me, I'm not particularly a big fan of the documentary until I saw this film (when I used to hear the word "documentary" I would think of the old high school science or nature film that I would have to watch in class & my eyes would start to glaze over with boredom).I first watched "September", spookily enough, 28 years & 3 days after the incident & less than one year before another September day. A darker day in American history that would be forever known as 9/11.Like I said twice before the film is unflinching, but also a bit brutal & overall honest (the film states the facts & doesn't preach.I find that a rarity).Scenes that still stick in my mind:The daughter of one of the slain athletes tells of how she sees her father thru the eyes of people who knew him, but, she can never hug him or tell him that she loves him (she can barely speak the last words without her voice breaking & her eyes tearing up). The film then cuts to photos of the slain & bloody body of her father lying on the floor of one of the athletes rooms.Led Zepplin's, "The Immigrant Song" plays over images of that days Olympic events (yes, the games continued as the hostage crisis escalated not to far away).While the tragedy unfolded, not more than 200 yards away, fellow Olympians were preparing for the days events or relaxing poolside, oblivous as to what was going on.Disturbing photos of the airport tragedy & the strewn bodies of the victims in the aftermath.As for the DVD re-release, it's basically the same as the original with the coverart a little different."One Day In September" should not be missed & is a perfect example of why terrorism must be stopped throughout our world.