Golda

2023
PG-13
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

14K

YOUR RATING

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.

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Docudrama Political Drama Biography Drama History 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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

14K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 10 nominations total

Trivia
Viewers 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.

Goofs
King 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.

Connections
Featured in The Oscars (2024)

Soundtracks
Who 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

User reviews89

Review

Featured review

8/10

Up close and personal

Having experienced the Yom Kippur War living 10 minutes from Israel's border with both Syria and Jordan, I was very interested to see Golda. There is a lot in this film that captures aspects of Israeli mentality and culture, presented in such a subtle way that it is not until after viewing the film may become apparent to someone who reflects on what the film portrayed.

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.