Golda: Injustice to the Prime Minister
“Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.”
-Golda Meir
“Golda” Review: 3/5 ⭐️
A 1h 40m drama, Golda retells the remarkable story of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the midst of the Yom Kippur war. The movie explores both the publicized, media-driven aspects of the Middle Eastern conflict as well as Golda’s internal struggle with anxiety, illness, and addiction. Although an essential piece of cinema representing a tragic mark in history, Golda ultimately lacks in the proper pacing and spirit that the film had the potential of achieving.
The cinematography on this film is artistic, but disproportionate at best. Along with the few scenes that truly sparked a sense of emotion in the audience came several lackluster, confusing shots that disregarded the severity of the plot. The motif of smoke was overutilized immensely, leaving viewers merely dizzy rather than moved by the symbolism within the Prime Minister’s tobacco addiction. There is one scene in particular near the assumable climax of the film where the camera pans in and out so frequently, it’s difficult to even understand the directorial choices being made.
The approach that writers took when crafting the plot may be Golda’s largest letdown. As a movie reviewer well-acquainted with the historical context behind the film, I find it safe to say that this film merely scratches the surface of this complicated, layered story. Golda Meir, a trailblazer in the field of public policy and international relations, was pigeonholed to the archetype of a struggling woman in power, when in reality, she was so much more. The film begins, runs its course, and ends abruptly, leaving viewers with not the urge to watch more, but rather, the skeptic and convoluted themes the writers failed to flesh out stuck in their minds.
Golda, despite its critical acclaim, did not bring justice to the Prime Minister’s breathtaking story. Instead, it merely scratched the surface of what is an incredibly complex, 19-day battle led by one of the strongest female leaders in history using visuals adjacent to a vat of smoke.
