Golda movie review

MOVIE TITLE:    Golda

This dramatic history lesson of the 19-day Yom Kippur War in 1973 is now available on Video on Demand on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and Apple TV.

On a personal note, it’s truly heartbreaking to learn what’s happening in Israel right now.  Hamas attacked exactly 1 day after the 50-year anniversary of the Yom Kippur war featured in this film.

RATING:    PG-13

LENGTH:     1 hour 40 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE:     A

IN A NUTSHELL:

The movie takes a look at the very complicated woman and the new state of Israel she led during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

The film was beautifully directed by Guy Nattiv, and written by Nicholas Martin.

THINGS I LIKED:

• I absolutely adore Helen Mirren. She is a true national treasure, earning her the title of Dame from the British Crown.  Give her another Academy Award for Best Actress.  She’s amazing in this role as the Prime Minister of Israel, often called the “Iron Lady of Israel.”  Viewers might be surprised to hear Helen Mirren using an American accent for Golda, but Gold actually grew up in the USA and didn’t immigrate to Palestine until she was in her 20s.
• The makeup team also deserves an Oscar. What a tremendous transformation of the lovely Helen Mirren into Golda Meir, as well as the handsome Live Schreiber into Henry Kissinger.  Helen Mirren stated that she would spend 3.5 hours in the makeup chair each time she filmed, working on every detail of her face, legs, and nicotine-stained fingers.
• Director Guy Nattiv had me within the first few seconds of the film. The shots are picture-perfect.  There’s an incredible visual of Golda smoking in bed.  The camera looks down on her and we hear the sound of bombs as the smoke from her cigarette dramatically rises above her in a cloud.  So clever and powerful.
• Even the sound effects were noticeably great.
• The soundtrack and original score have already been nominated for awards. The song at the end of the film is called “Who by Fire” by Leonard Cohen.  He was inspired by a Jewish prayer said during High Holidays, especially during Yom Kippur.  The prayer is called “Unetanneh Tokef”, which means, “Let us speak of the awesomeness.”  When Leonard Cohen performed a series of concerts in Israel in 1973, he heard the prayer and was inspired to write the song.
• I’ve been suddenly noticing actress Camille Cottin in so many movies. She’s always perfect in every role.  The entire cast did an exceptional job.
• The cabinet room used in many scenes is an exact replica of the real cabinet used in the Kirya base in Tel Aviv.
• The maps used in certain scenes help viewers to understand the geography.
• Throughout the movie, we see Golda visiting her doctor often and struggling with her health, all while continuously puffing cigarettes. The cause of her death wasn’t disclosed immediately but was later revealed to be lymphoma.  She died just 5 years after the Yom Kippur War.
• We get to see old footage of Golda and her countrymen. There’s one scene that takes old footage and puts Helen Mirren’s Golda right in the middle of it. Very cool.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Some viewers might be bored with all of the political conversations.
• It would have been helpful if the maps were written in English so we could understand the borders of cities and countries.
• Although the times of war were dramatic and terrifying, a bit more humor would have endeared us to more of the characters.
• Some have complained that the casting was off and that a Jewish actress should have played Golda.  How do YOU feel about that?

TIPS FOR PARENTS:    

• Kids will be completely bored. Adults who love history will be fascinated by the closer look at the Prime Minister of Israel during the Yom Kippur War in the 1970s.
• Talk of death and war.
• We see a naked Golda in the bathtub, although all private parts are completely covered up.
• We see Jewish prisoners captured.
• So many cigarettes.
• Alcohol
• Foreign languages are spoken without subtitles.
• We see a hall filled with dead birds on the floor.
• Some blood splatters are seen.

THEMES:

• War
• Sovereignty
• The Jewish nation
• Persistence
• Courage
• Politics
• Dementia

FUNNY LINES:

• “Just remember, all political careers end in failure.” – Golda (Helen Mirren)

INTERESTING LINES:

• “Better to be safe than sorry.” – Golda Meir (Helen Mirren)
• “In my day, they stood for the Prime Minister.” Golda, when she walks into a conference room full of cigarette-smoking men.
• “We will teach our enemies a lesson they will never forget.” – Golda (Helen Mirren)
• “We’ve got trouble with the neighbors again.” – Golda (Helen Mirren)
• “He wants us to win.” – Lou Kaddar (Camille Cottin)     “But with a bloody nose.” – Golda  (Helen Mirren)
• “I’m a politician, not a soldier.” – Golda (Helen Mirren)
• “We are fighting for our lives.” – Golda (Helen Mirren)

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

• A Woman Called Golda: https://amzn.to/3rI6Gd4
• Darkest Hour: https://moviereviewmom.com/darkest-hour-will-probably-win-gary-oldman-an-oscar/
• The Iron Lady: https://amzn.to/3F7musN

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