Golda is a 2023 biographical drama film directed by Guy Nattiv and written by Nicholas Martin. The film depicts actions of Golda Meir, the 4th Prime Minister of Israel, during the Yom Kippur War. It stars Helen Mirren, Camille Cottin and Liev Schreiber.
It received its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival on February 20, 2023. It was released in the United States by Bleecker Street and Shivhans Pictures on August 25, 2023 and was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Vertical Entertainment and MetFilm Distribution on October 6, 2023. The film received a Best Makeup and Hairstyling nomination at the 96th Academy Awards.
In October 1973, Mossad receives intelligence implying that Egypt and Syria are preparing to commence a military campaign against Israel, which it promptly relays to the Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir. Golda is dismissive of the intelligence, noting her inability to initiate a counter-plan without the support of her defense minister, Moshe Dayan, who too, is equally speculative.
On 6 October, the day of Yom Kippur, Golda's inner circle informs her that Egypt has amassed a large force opposite the Suez Canal, concluding that hostilities would begin by sundown. Although realizing her tardiness in adequately preparing, Golda refuses to make a pre-emptive move, instead ordering a partial mobilization to face the threat; nevertheless, the attack commences early, which surprises her. Elsewhere, Dayan, who had been sent to inspect the Golan Heights, is horrified to discover that Syria has launched a thorough attack against the ill-prepared Israeli troops. Dazed, he attempts to resign, but Golda talks him out of it, nonetheless, she loses her confidence in him.
Between 7-8 October, with Egypt and Syria making gains into Israel, IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. David Elazar proposes to relieve Israeli fortifications in the Sinai Peninsula using the 162nd Division led by Maj. Gen. Avraham Adan. Despite opposition from Mossad chief Zvi Zamir, the plan proceeds, but the Egyptians defeat the Israeli force. The next day, with the Syrian offensive having slowed, Dayan proposes an air strike on Damascus to put pressure on Egypt. However, with a shortage of planes, the IAF is unable to proceed; in response, Golda requests U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger to provide surplus jets, which he reluctantly agrees to.
On the fifth day, amidst increasing tensions, Maj. Gen. Ariel Sharon proposes an operation to cross the canal using the 143rd Division to challenge the Egyptian Second and Third Armies. Zvi informs Golda that the Egyptian 4th and 21st Divisions would cross the canal in two days, leaving Cairo undefended in the event of an attack. Per the intelligence, the Egyptians cross the canal and are met with resistance from Israeli tank forces led by Lt. Gen. Haim Bar-Lev and are defeated.
On 15 October, Sharon’s forces cross the canal at an undefended point called the "Chinese Farm". They are ambushed by Egyptian units, regardless, they maintain their positions. Meanwhile, Elazar prepares to barricade the Third Army by cutting Suez from Cairo, which would accordingly force Egypt into negotiations. Concurrently, Kissinger pays a private visit to Golda and urges her to accept a ceasefire. Golda proceeds with her plan anyway, which finally forces Egypt into talks.
By the twentieth day, both sides agree to the further diplomatic talks and to exchange POWs, effectively concluding the conflict. However, Zvi privately informs Golda that IDF military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Eli Zeira had neglected to properly monitor signals intelligence from the Egyptian side, which allowed Israel to be attacked unawares; although appalled, she chooses to bear the blame instead to shield the IDF from controversy. Despite the victory, the conflict's intensity inflicts an emotional toll on the aged Golda, who is stricken with cancer.
One year later, in 1974, Golda testifies before the Agranat Commission for her conduct during the war. She states off-the-record that despite her initial uncertainty, she had genuinely felt that war was certain. Four years later, on 8 October 1978, a bedridden Golda dies watching footage of her meeting with Egyptian president Anwar Sadat a year earlier.
The film's monologue informs that the commission cleared Golda of any wrongdoing and that she lived to see the signing of the Camp David Accords, the first formal measures of peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
In April 2021, it was announced Helen Mirren was set to star, with Guy Nattiv to direct, a screenplay by Nicholas Martin.[4] In November 2021, Camille Cottin, Rami Heuberger, Lior Ashkenazi, Ellie Piercy, Ed Stoppard, Rotem Keinan, Dvir Benedek, Dominic Mafham, Ben Caplan, Kit Rakusen and Emma Davies joined the cast.[5] In January 2022, Liev Schreiber announced his involvement.[6]
Principal photography began on November 8, 2021, in London, United Kingdom.[7][8]
Helen Mirren was cast as Golda Meir at the behest of Meir's grandson Gideon.[9] In January 2022, British actress Maureen Lipman and others criticized the casting choice on account of Mirren not being Jewish, stating: "I'm sure she will be marvellous, but it would never be allowed for Ben Kingsley to play Nelson Mandela. You just couldn't even go there."[10][11] The following month, Mirren responded by saying Lipman was "utterly legitimate" to criticize her casting, and she had discussed the decision to cast her in the film with director Nattiv.[12]
In July 2021, Bleecker Street and ShivHans Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[13] In August 2023, Vertical Entertainment acquired U.K. and Irish distribution rights in partnership with MetFilm Distribution.[14] It had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 20, 2023.[15] It also screened at the Jerusalem Film Festival on July 13, 2023.[16] It was released in Israel on August 24, 2023, by United King Films,[17] and in the United States the next day, on August 25, 2023.[18] The film was released theatrically in the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 6, 2023.[14]
Golda was released for digital platforms on September 19, 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on October 17, 2023.[19]
In the United States and Canada, Golda was released alongside Gran Turismo, The Hill, and Retribution, and was projected to gross around $1 million from 883 theaters in its opening weekend.[20] It finished its run with $4.8 million in the United States and $6 million worldwide.[21]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 129 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Helen Mirren is typically masterful in the title role, but Golda never amounts to much more than a passable history lesson presented in largely underwhelming biopic form."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 48 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[23]
The film was described as "typical Israeli propaganda" in one review, by Ramzy Baroud, published in Arab News and Middle East Monitor.[24][25]
A New York Times review by Amy Nicholson concluded that against the backdrop of a surprise attack on Israel, the script, by Nicholas Martin, focuses on the haunting body count rather than the righteousness of the conflict, where one is “left with a sense that the stress of those thousands of lives cut short may have killed her (Golda) too.”[26]