What constitutes war? Steven Spielberg’s latest masterpiece Munich retells the story of the Israel massacre during the Munich Olympics. Based on George Jonas’ novel Vengeance, it also follows the story of Avner, the leader of the Israeli team tasked to seek vengeance for their country. In this film, red serves as the dominant element of each scene. Symbolizing both love and war, is it justified?
Munich begins with a breathtaking reenactment of the hostage of the Israeli team during the 1972 Olympics at Munich, West Germany. There were 11 of them; 2 of which were killed as they were being held hostage while the remaining 9 perished at the hands of the terrorists at the airport. In response, Golda Meir, the prime minister of Israel formed a secret team that would avenge the massacre. During a briefing with the team’s captain, she firmly stated, “Forget peace we gotta show them we’re strong”. Thus, signaling the beginning of another bloodshed.
Eric Bana portrays the role of Avner in the film. After having been personally chosen by the prime minister as the leader of the revenge squadron, Avner had to part from his family, keeping secret his whereabouts in the following months. In this mission he met Ephraim (Geoffrey Rush), a go-between that handles the missions and facilitates his “non-existence”. The reason behind denying their existence, however, was not clearly stated. Coming into the squadron with Avner are 4 other men: Steve (Daniel Craig), Hans (Hanns Zischler), Robert (Mathieu Kassovitz) and Carl (Ciaran Hinds), each with a duty to fulfill – Steve serves as triggerman, Hans creates the necessary documents, Robert materializes the bombs and Carl removes the evidence after the killings. All of them had the strong passion to serve their country.
Before they officially embarked on their killing spree, Avner met Louis (Mathieu Amalric), the one they pay to retrieve information of the whereabouts of revenge team’s targets. Later on Avner then meets Louis’ “Papa” (Michael Lonsdale), the root to all of their information; Avner and “Papa” easily formed a father and son relationship because of their passion for cooking, Papa would later on tell Avner, “That is our tragedy: butchers' hands, and gentle souls.”
Then came the most exciting part of the film – the detailed assassination of the people involved in the Munich massacre. The squadron’s first target was an Italian translator. Upon having the man face to face, Avner questioned him, “Do you know why we’re here?” This was followed by a mobster shooting. As the film progressed, booby traps were planted, bombs were hidden, and more assailants were killed. Perhaps the most thrilling of all was the telephone bomb sequence. The squadron spies around, waiting for a little girl to leave home for school before calling her father and trigger the bomb, later on become stunned to see the girl answer the phone. This further elaborates the risks these men have to take for their mission.
Another suspenseful moment took place in a safe house. Avner and the men were sleeping in a safe house when they heard footsteps of men coming near their room. In a deadly sequence, we find out that Avner’s men and the PLO team are both booked in the same “safe house”.
As the movie progressed we find Avner questioning the ethics behind their operation. He states, "Jews don't do wrong because our enemies do wrong," and furthermore, "if these people committed crimes we should have arrested them." In the end of the film, it is found out that even if 9 out of the 11 assailants have been killed, they have been replaced by more and even more dangerous terrorists, thus the shedding of blood gets even worse. Avner then gets dismissed from the mission. However, despite having been reunited with his family, he does not have peace. During a final meeting with Ephraim, he asks, “What have we done?”
Munich is Steven Spielberg’s most serious film since Schindler’s List. In this movie, Spielberg’s sentiment for Israel has been very clear. However he questions the values behind Israel’s “vengeance” – is it justified? Are the killings justified? Because of this, he brought a voice and was able to open debatable issues crucial to countries who believe that they must compromise their values to defend them. This film does not only speak for Israel but for the rest of the nations in strife.
As a dramatic thriller, Spielberg was able to portray terrorism and reprisal in a world filled with conflict. Because of this, Munich is both absorbing and riveting. More importantly, as a film, Munich was able to deliver a message that is according to our time. The film does not need an Oscar but a medal of courage and honor.
