Post by artraveler on Sept 25, 2023 17:32:07 GMT -8
Golda
This movie does not do justice to Golda Meir. She is one of the founders of the modern State of Israel. Looking at her life from that view she is deservedly a hero. The movie, staring Helen Mirren, focuses on the October War in 73. As a historian, I found the move fills in some gap’s history books leave out or just ignore.
My partner and I were sent, from Langley (CIA HQ) to Israel, arriving on 4 October. We carried a war warning from CIA to Mossad detailing the formations lined up to invade Israel. The movie makes clear that Mossad also had independent confirmation of Arab plans to begin the war on the afternoon of 6 October. Thus, I found the dramatic interplay between Golda and Zvi Zamir, Mossad Director, very interesting. Zamir, I believe, was more interested in peace with Egypt than if war was coming. Did he behave honorably during the war? Yes, but he never admitted his errors of judgement.
The movie details the first days of the war when everything was going to hell for Israel. It was during this period that Golda displayed true leadership, even releasing Moshe Dayan from duty. Rumor has it, and the movie makes note of Dayan’s effort to use Israel’s nuclear weapons to halt the Arab advance. I wonder if the Dylan wig-out was added more for dramatic effect then actual events. However, for a brief period Dylan was relieved from duty. He later returned and was of great service during the last week of the war.
Helen Mirren plays Golda much as she is remembered in media and books. She has some of the character traits and has the accent down pat. Is this an Oscar winning performance? Could be, she has the part down, even the make up calls up Golda. The movie begins with the investigation of the events of the war and progresses through a series of flashbacks. We get glimpses of a young Golda and her emigration to Palestine. I would have liked more about the early years, but the focus of the movie was the 73 war.
For American Jews, as we approach the 50th anniversary of this war, there is much we already know. However, seeing the Iron Lady of Israel again and learning how close Israel came to defeat and the role of Henry Kissinger, who is now 100 years old, does give some light on Israeli politics in the last 20 years. The movie is a solid, if imperfect, historical document and worth your time.
This movie does not do justice to Golda Meir. She is one of the founders of the modern State of Israel. Looking at her life from that view she is deservedly a hero. The movie, staring Helen Mirren, focuses on the October War in 73. As a historian, I found the move fills in some gap’s history books leave out or just ignore.
My partner and I were sent, from Langley (CIA HQ) to Israel, arriving on 4 October. We carried a war warning from CIA to Mossad detailing the formations lined up to invade Israel. The movie makes clear that Mossad also had independent confirmation of Arab plans to begin the war on the afternoon of 6 October. Thus, I found the dramatic interplay between Golda and Zvi Zamir, Mossad Director, very interesting. Zamir, I believe, was more interested in peace with Egypt than if war was coming. Did he behave honorably during the war? Yes, but he never admitted his errors of judgement.
The movie details the first days of the war when everything was going to hell for Israel. It was during this period that Golda displayed true leadership, even releasing Moshe Dayan from duty. Rumor has it, and the movie makes note of Dayan’s effort to use Israel’s nuclear weapons to halt the Arab advance. I wonder if the Dylan wig-out was added more for dramatic effect then actual events. However, for a brief period Dylan was relieved from duty. He later returned and was of great service during the last week of the war.
Helen Mirren plays Golda much as she is remembered in media and books. She has some of the character traits and has the accent down pat. Is this an Oscar winning performance? Could be, she has the part down, even the make up calls up Golda. The movie begins with the investigation of the events of the war and progresses through a series of flashbacks. We get glimpses of a young Golda and her emigration to Palestine. I would have liked more about the early years, but the focus of the movie was the 73 war.
For American Jews, as we approach the 50th anniversary of this war, there is much we already know. However, seeing the Iron Lady of Israel again and learning how close Israel came to defeat and the role of Henry Kissinger, who is now 100 years old, does give some light on Israeli politics in the last 20 years. The movie is a solid, if imperfect, historical document and worth your time.
