Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel,' faced during the Yom Kippur War.Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel,' faced during the Yom Kippur War.Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel,' faced during the Yom Kippur War.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 10 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
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Summary
Featured reviews
This is not a bio-pic, it covers only a very focused part of her life, namely the 1973 Yom Kippur war. On October 6, 1973, an Arab coalition of Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur-the Jewish holy day of atonement.
Helen Mirren in full prosthetic makeup is almost a dead ringer for Prime Minister Golda Meir. At one point she says she is a politician not a military leader, in her frustration at not getting her head wrapped around the conflict and what they should do. But as the days advance she makes a number of tough decisions after her military leaders present options.
All this was going on while she was battling cancer at the age of 75, and receiving radiation treatments. And the year after a truce was reached, having to answer to an inquiry about the actions she took. She died in 1978.
This is a well-made movie that tells an interesting and important story in the history of Israel. And especially now, in the fall of 2023, when Hamas recently attacked Israel and a full-fledged war is in progress as I write this. Why can't everyone get along?
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library.
Her legacy is nothing compared to who she was, to what she did, to how she even became the first female president ever. The struggles she went throughout her political career are not only the war. The movie should have been named 'Kipur War' and not 'Golda' since it didn't even SHOW Golda as a whole. Iv'e expected to know her more and have more personal outlook on her life. Either way- I appreciate Hellen and her marvelous acting skills.
I liked , very much, this precise crafted docudrama , proposing a fair perspective about a politician in middle of a terrible war, fragil and the most powerful from members of her cabinet, impressed by sacrifices of Israeli soldiers and unpitifull in crucial moments, using, in wise manner, the relation with Henry Kissinger , admirable acted by Liev Schreiber.
A beautiful film for many profound special scenes, from the metamorphose of cigare smoke to the dialogue with Kissinger in kitchen and the birds on the hall of hospital.
Not exctly a biopic. But useful, for many reasons, anatomy of a moment defining the history of Israel not only as isolated event but as definition of its survive tools , people, reactions, power.
More than anything, however, Golda is about Golda. It might surprise some viewers to realize that much of her persona was shaped by having escaped the pogroms of what is now the Ukraine. She was only a child when her family came as immigrants to the US and the film shows a side of her haunted by what might have been had they not made it to a safer country.
Another interesting element of her story is illustrated by her exchanges with Henry Kissinger. To avoid a "spoiler" I will instead urge the viewer to pay close attention to the inter-actions between them, always behind closed doors.
Golda is a history lesson wrapped in a biography. It is solid film making with good writing, directing and an outstanding performance from Helen Mirren. It captures an amazing phenomenon: the experience of war time leadership born on the shoulders (and in the kitchen) of a woman who carried this burden with incredible courage, sensitivity, intelligence, and honesty.
Did you know
- TriviaViewers who know little about the life history of Golda Meir may be surprised to hear the British actress Helen Mirren performing the role of an Israeli prime minster with an American accent. In fact, Meir, who was born in present-day Ukraine, grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after her family immigrated to America when she was about eight years old. The elementary school she attended, Fourth Street School, is now called the Golda Meir School for Gifted and Talented Students. She stayed in the United States until her early twenties, when she made aliyah (immigrated) to the land then known as British Mandate of Palestine.
- GoofsKing Hussein of Jordan, after meeting with Sadat and Assad to discuss the war and confirming that Jordan would not take any part of it, on his way back to Jordan landed in Israel and met with Golda Meir and other members of the government on September 25th, 1973, giving them heads up on the impending war. This was declassified a couple of years ago.
- Quotes
Henry Kissinger: Madam Prime Minister, in terms of our work together, I think it's important for you to remember that I am first an American, second I'm Secretary of State, and third, I am a Jew.
Golda Meir: You forget that in Israel we read from right to left.
Henry Kissinger: Of course.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Oscars (2024)
- SoundtracksWho by Fire
Words and Music by Leonard Cohen
Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC and BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Courtesy of 1974 Sony Music Entertainment
Licensed by Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
- How long is Golda?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,801,781
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,695,959
- Aug 27, 2023
- Gross worldwide
- $7,039,700
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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