Product: One Day in September [VHS] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
Terror in Munich Germany
The Olympic games are supposed to be a time when political differences are cast aside and people from different nations can join together in the spirit of competition. Most of the time, these international games can be counted for their objective and welcoming nature with minimal interference from outside factors.But in 1972, the Olympic world was shaken when three Palestinian terrorists held Israeli athletes hostage and eventually killed them all. This tragic moment is the main topic of this documentary, narrated by movie actor Michael Douglas. This documentary takes you behind the scenes, with footage from the actual siege, commentary from the news journalists who hoped the event could be settled peacefully, and comments from one of the actual terrorists himself, Jamal Al Gashey.This documentary lets the viewer see and hear what happened and it has some good educational value. I found out a few facts about this event that I hadn't heard before or had forgotten. The most significant of these facts was the fate of the three terrorists. They were detained in a German prison after the shooting spree, but they were later turned over to their homeland when a German airliner was hijacked and its terrorists demanded that the three Olympic terrorists be set free or else they would blow up the airliner. The German government gave in to their demands. This is unusual in and of itself, but the other circumstances make it seem even more unreal- almost like Germany orchestrated the entire event.To keep this documentary entertaining, like a movie, the director includes several classic rock tunes and there are many segments where all you see is a bunch of miscellaneous scenes and music playing. These scenes have little to do with the subject matter so I can only surmise that the director did this to make it seem more like a full, Hollywood production.These three terrorists were never brought to justice. They were turned over to their homeland where they undoubtedly received hero's welcomes. Jamal Al Gashey's role in this documentary is probably the most important part of the film because he explains, in his own cold, indifferent way, why he is proud of what he did and how it helped the Palestinian movement. His inclusion, alone, makes this documentary worth watching.The Olympic games are supposed to be free from political influence and for the most part, these ancient games achieve their goal and steer clear from this area of controversy. But every now and then, politics rears its ugly head. The 1972 Olympics is one of the most extreme examples of what can happen when militant individuals strike terror into the hearts and minds of innocent victims. And it makes this documentary one I recommend watching.