It
only took 45 years, but Germany has finally recognized the eleven Israeli
athletes and coaches murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics, along with a West
German policeman. So much for German efficiency. In contrast, it took less
than a day for the PLO-offshoot Black September to permanently shatter the illusion
of Olympic brotherhood. The horrific attack and subsequent decades long
struggle for both the German government and the International Olympic Committee
to acknowledge the tragedy are chronicled in Stephen Crisman’s short
documentary, Munich ‘72 (trailer here), which commences a
series of special screening this Friday in New York and Los Angeles.
Nearly
everything about the Olympic terrorist attacks are worse than you assumed. The
FRG’s response was stunningly incompetent and there is ample evidence to
suggest a government cover-up of the worst details remains ongoing. What is
undeniable is eleven Israelis were assassinated by Black September for the
crimes of being Jewish and Israeli (some were also Holocaust survivors).
Crisman
concisely but comprehensibly recaps the crimes with the help of fellow
team-mates, surviving family members, and journalists covering the Munich
Games. Ironically, some of the most telling commentary comes from so-called
Palestinian “journalists,” who accurately gloat the murders put their cause on
the world’s front-burner. However, when pressed regarding the torture endured
by the athletes, including a castration allowed to fatally bleed out, they
protest ignorance or respond with the sound of crickets chirping. (Raed Othman,
cat got your tongue?)
Indeed,
this is a case where the world (especially Europe) rewarded cowardly carnage. Time
and again, survivors describe the dissembling responses they received from
Germany and the IOC when they requested a proper memorial for their loved ones.
We hear at length from Ankie Spitzer, Ilana Romano, and Michal Shahar, who
suffered such terrible losses and then endured decades of insults in the form
of silence from the craven IOC.
The
Munich memorial looks classy and altogether fitting, which is something. However,
until the IOC finally acknowledges the twelve victims during the official Olympic
ceremonies, they continue to provide passive encouragement for further acts of
utter butchery.
It
is amazing how much Crisman packs into twenty-nine minutes. The film is part
history lesson, part expose, and partly a tutorial in how to affirm life in the
face of death. Even if you think you know what happened, Munich ’72 will deepen your understanding. It is an infuriating and
inspiring film that everyone should see, because the implications of those
horrendous events definitely apply to our era as well. Very highly recommended,
Munich ’72 and Beyond will have a
series of special Oscar season screenings starting this Friday (11/3) at the
Cinema Village in New York and the Laemmle Music Hall in Los Angeles.
