The film Munich directed by Stephen Spielberg is a breath-taking and thought-provoking narrative which shows how the quest for revenge can compromise the ethical integrity of an individual. Moreover, this cinematographic work exemplifies the conflict between one’s own principles and the duties which can be imposed on a person by the state. This is the main theme that is explored by the authors of this film.
It should be noted that this film is based on George Jonas’ book Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team. This author has been able to describe the inner world of Israeli agents who were recruited to assassinate people involved in the Munich massacre and other terrorist acts. This author is able to show how people like Avner Kaufman eventually become disillusioned with their own work. To some degree, George Jonas’ ideas are reflected in the movie.
When discussing the tone of this film, one can say that it makes the audience confused or perplexed. On the one hand, the viewers can feel empathy for the secret agents who want to bring criminals to justice. Nevertheless, at the same time, one can see that these people are not able to justify their actions. Eventually, these agents understand that they could kill innocent people. The plot of the movie is loosely based on the narrative created by George Jonas. The film depicts the activities of Mossad agents, attempting to track down people who perpetrated or facilitated the massacre of Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympiad. The movie shows what kind of difficulties and perils these people encounter.
Among the main characters, one can certainly distinguish Avner Kaufman and Ephraim. These people have conflicting values and worldviews. Avner played by Eric Bana does not want to be used a mere tool by the state. In his opinion, murder cannot be justified by any noble causes. In contrast, Ephraim is quite content with this role.
Much attention should be paid to the performance of Eric Bana who was able to reflect the conflicting emotions of the main character. At the beginning, this person is firmly convinced that he pursues a noble cause. Nevertheless, he eventually becomes disillusioned. In turn, Eric Bana can give viewers deep insights into the inner world of this character. This is one of his major achievements.
Additionally, it is critical to discuss the role of Stephen Spielberg who ensures that every character has his/her unique identity that makes the audience to relive the emotions experienced by these people. Moreover, he is able to weave different scenes into a coherent whole. It should be noted that this film consists of various scenes, and each of them enables the viewers to assess the skillful performance of actors. Furthermore, the music composed by John Williams lets the viewers sense the emotions of the main characters. In turn, the choice of costumes reflects the atmosphere of the eighties. These qualities distinguish this movie among others.
Overall, Munich is a cinematographic work that engulfs the audience into the world of politics, crime, and war. In turn, the film-makers succeed in creating a mixture of an action film and moral drama. This is one of the strengths that make this movie worth watching. To a great extent, this film shows how the values of a person can be transformed.