Spielberg proud of Israeli endorsements for new film

Director Steven Spielberg said he is “very proud” of two early endorsements from the widows of two of the 11 Israeli athletes killed in the 1972 Olympic massacre detailed in his controversial new film, Munich.

Ilana Romano, widow of weightlifter Yosef Romano and Ankie Spitzer, who was married to the fencing coach Andre Spitzer, are the only Israelis to see the film in Israel before its official release late next month.

The movie opened in the US today.

“We had heard their reaction soon after the screening and we were obviously very, very gratified,” Spielberg’s Los Angeles-based spokesman, Marvin Levy, said yesterday.

“That would clearly be the most sensitive screening we would have. When they said that any concern they might have had was satisfied, this was enormously gratifying and Steven is very proud of that.”

The film has drawn fire from Jews and Israelis concerned that it distorts history, with critics arguing it is too sympathetic to the Palestinian terrorists who carried out the massacre. Many of the critics, however, have not seen the film, which has been closely guarded.

But the two women, after a screening this week, said the film neither dishonours their husbands’ memories nor tarnishes their country’s image.

The film focuses on the September 5, 1972 assault on the Olympic village in Munich by members of the Palestinian Black September group and Israel’s response.

In an attack that shocked the world, the group attacked the Israeli living quarters, killing two and taking nine others hostage. The hostages later died in a botched German rescue attempt.

Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir set up a special unit from Israel’s top-secret Mossad agency to hunt down and kill those involved in the attack.