September 5 – Immersing the Audience in a Defining Moment of Media History
September 5 (2024) isn’t just a film about a historical event—it’s a film about how we experience history in real time. Rather than presenting a wide, omniscient view of the events, the film takes a more immediate, immersive approach, telling the story through the eyes of sports reporters who unexpectedly find themselves in the middle of a crisis. By limiting the audience’s perspective to what these journalists see and know, the film mirrors the uncertainty, fear, and urgency of the moment, making it all the more gripping.
One of the key stylistic choices that heightens this realism is the cinematography. Shot primarily in long takes with handheld cameras, the film creates the sensation of live, unfiltered coverage, compressing time and keeping the audience locked into the moment. The decision to use only two cameras reinforces the feeling of being on the ground, as if watching a real-time broadcast unfolding under chaotic conditions. This technique doesn’t just serve the narrative—it puts the audience in the shoes of those experiencing the event firsthand, intensifying the tension without relying on traditional cinematic spectacle.
The film’s dedication to authenticity extends to its visual aesthetic. To recreate the look of the 1970s, the filmmakers used a film emulation LUT (Look-Up Table) in post-production, giving the footage a vintage texture reminiscent of archival news broadcasts. Combined with the raw, documentary-like camerawork, this choice makes September 5 feel like a recovered time capsule rather than a stylized period piece. It’s not about nostalgia—it’s about placing the viewer inside the moment as if they’re watching history unfold in real time.
By using perspective, cinematography, and color grading in such a deliberate way, September 5 becomes more than just a retelling of a pivotal moment in media history. It captures the way information—and the limitations of real-time reporting—shape our perception of events. In doing so, it doesn’t just depict history; it makes us feel the weight of it.
