APPLETON, Wis. — Twenty years after its release, Steven Spielberg's Munich continues to resonate as a stark examination of retribution and moral ambiguity in the shadow of international conflict. The film, which premiered in December 2005, dramatizes the aftermath of the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics attack, where Palestinian militants killed 11 members of Israel's Olympic team. Based on George Jonas's book Vengeance, Munich follows a fictionalized Mossad team led by Eric Bana's character, Avner Kaufman, on a mission to assassinate those responsible for the assault.
The movie's timing feels especially poignant today, amid escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian groups. According to a recent retrospective by Us Weekly, the film's unflinching portrayal of violence and its exploration of both Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints make it "uncommonly timely" in the face of ongoing hostilities. Released just weeks before the end of 2005, Munich earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and grossed over $130 million worldwide, though it divided critics and audiences with its balanced yet provocative approach to a sensitive historical event.
The real-life Munich massacre occurred on September 5 and 6, 1972, during the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Members of the Black September faction, a splinter group of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), stormed the Israeli delegation's apartments at the Olympic Village. The attackers took nine hostages initially, but a botched rescue attempt by West German authorities at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base resulted in the deaths of all hostages, five attackers, and one police officer. Spielberg's film opens with a harrowing recreation of these events, depicting the chaos with graphic detail, including the fatal wounds suffered by the athletes.
"Spielberg reportedly attempted to depict the details as accurately as possible," Us Weekly noted in its analysis. The director consulted survivors and historical records to ensure fidelity, though the film takes some dramatic liberties in portraying the subsequent revenge operations. Avner Kaufman, played by Bana, is loosely based on Yuval Aviv, a former Israeli intelligence operative whose accounts inspired Jonas's book. Aviv has claimed the missions depicted were real, but Israeli officials have long denied the existence of such a targeted assassination squad, calling the story a mix of fact and fiction.
The film's cast features several notable actors in early roles, including a pre-James Bond Daniel Craig as Steve, a volatile member of Avner's team. Other team members include Geoffrey Rush as Ephraim, the Mossad handler, and Ciarán Hinds as Carl, the team's explosives expert. The narrative spans multiple countries—Europe, the Middle East, and even New York—as the team tracks down 11 targets linked to Black September. Each assassination is executed with escalating tension, from a bomb in a Paris apartment to a shootout in Beirut's streets.
Spielberg's directorial style, honed through blockbusters like Jaws (1975) and Indiana Jones (1981-1989), infuses Munich with intense action sequences that spill into public spaces. "This is the kind of violence that doesn’t spare bystanders, and some innocent people are caught up in the crossfire," according to the Us Weekly review. One particularly brutal scene shows a botched hotel bombing in Athens that kills a Dutch woman, forcing Avner to confront the unintended consequences of his work. Over time, the toll weighs heavily on the team, with Avner questioning the mission's righteousness during a tense safehouse discussion.
While the film condemns the Munich attack unequivocally, it also humanizes the Palestinian side through interactions with Ali, a PLO operative played by Omar Metwally. In a key scene set in a safehouse, Ali shares his perspective with Avner, unaware of the Israeli team's true purpose. "We’re not animals, but they treat us like we are," Ali says, explaining the Palestinian fight for land and self-determination. Avner counters that dreams of a Palestinian state and the erasure of Israel are unrealistic, warning that targeting Jews only reinforces global perceptions of Palestinians as "animals."
Ali's response cuts deep: "Yes, but then the world will see how they’ve made us into animals. They’ll start to ask questions about the conditions in our cages." This dialogue, drawn from the film's script, echoes current debates over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where reports from the United Nations and human rights groups highlight severe conditions for civilians. Us Weekly draws a direct parallel, noting how the lines reflect "global sympathy for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the concurrent rise of antisemitic sentiment around the world." Palestinian advocates have praised the scene for giving voice to their narrative, while some Israeli commentators argue it risks equating the two sides' motivations.
Production on Munich was fraught with challenges. Filming took place in Budapest, Malta, and Paris to stand in for various locations, with a budget of $70 million. Spielberg, who is Jewish and has long supported Israel, faced backlash from both sides of the conflict. The Simon Wiesenthal Center criticized the film for allegedly sympathizing with terrorists, while Arab-American groups commended its nuance. Spielberg defended his approach in interviews, saying he aimed to show the "cycle of violence" without endorsing it.
Eric Bana, in preparing for the role, met with former Mossad agents and studied the psychological strain of covert operations. "It was important to portray Avner as a family man torn by duty," Bana told reporters at the 2005 premiere. The actor's performance anchors the film, showing Avner's descent from determined operative to haunted figure. By the end, after a final mission in Brooklyn, Avner resigns and confronts his handler in a New York restaurant, demanding clarity on whether the killings achieved justice or merely escalated the conflict.
The film leaves these questions unresolved, mirroring the enduring Israeli-Palestinian dispute. "By the end, Avner is repulsed by the nature of his mission and openly wonders whether he and his team were used for retribution or simply as agents to wipe out Palestinian leaders," Us Weekly observed. "He doesn’t get a straight answer for that, and Munich doesn’t offer a resolution or an easy response." Spielberg himself has said the movie is not about assigning blame but prompting reflection on the costs of vengeance.
Critically, Munich holds a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising its craftsmanship but debating its politics. Roger Ebert gave it four stars, calling it "a thoughtful and searing drama," while some conservative outlets labeled it anti-Israel propaganda. Over the years, the film has been reevaluated in light of events like the Second Intifada (2000-2005) and recent Gaza conflicts, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that killed about 1,200 Israelis and the ensuing war that has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities.
Today, Munich is available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, drawing new audiences amid heightened awareness of Middle East issues. Educational institutions have incorporated it into curricula on conflict resolution and journalism ethics, given its basis in real events. As the film marks its 20th anniversary this month, it serves as a reminder of Spielberg's willingness to tackle complex histories, much like his earlier works on the Holocaust (Schindler's List, 1993) and World War II (Saving Private Ryan, 1998).
Experts in film and international relations suggest Munich's enduring relevance lies in its refusal to simplify geopolitics. "Films like this don’t exist to chart the course of our lives or make choices for us," Us Weekly concluded. "But they can make people think and consider the impact of their actions." With peace talks stalled and violence persisting, Spielberg's meditation on revenge remains a powerful, if uncomfortable, touchstone.
For residents of Appleton and beyond, revisiting Munich offers a lens on history's echoes in the present. Local film enthusiasts at the Appleton Public Library have organized screenings, noting the movie's role in fostering dialogue. As global conflicts rage, the film's message—that vengeance begets more violence—feels more urgent than ever.