Golda – Leadership with Integrity

Sep 2, 2023 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston, Two Sues on the Aisle

Golda is a biographical drama that explores the leadership qualities and struggles Golda Meir, the ‘Iron Lady of Israel’ faced dealing with the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Although the war only lasted 18 days, Israel sustained heavy casualties when they were caught unprepared by a coordinated Arab attack.

The film features a magnificent performance by Helen Mirren. Mirren humanizes Meir, a stoic leader who faced the potential of Israel’s complete destruction while maintaining calm resolve navigating a skeptical cabinet, overconfident from their previous victory.  We watch Meir accept personal accountability for the decisions made by her cabinet, display compassion for the families of the soldiers, and shoulder the responsibility for protecting the State of Israel.

This is a timely story in an era where politicians lack moral character, Meir sets the bar high—showing the depth of character, and exemplary leadership. Golda Meir was the first woman Prime minister of Israel, she put her responsibility for the survival of Israel first and foremost.

Leadership and Empathy

Golda is not a documentary about the Yom Kipper War, although they do include numerous news clips throughout. It was a tribute to Golda Meir’s leadership. She was focused on saving the nation while at the same time, she was undergoing treatment for lymphoma in secret at the morgue. Every time Meir walks down the hallway toward her appointment, there are more and more bodies stacked up along the walls. It’s a powerful image.

Directed by the Israeli-American filmmaker, Guy Nattiv, the movie is framed around her testifying before the Agranat Commission which questions the intelligence failures that left Israel unprepared for the attack, asking what she knew, and if Israel could have acted differently.

Natitiv shows Meir’s anguish over the war’s death toll.  As the Prime Minister she accepts responsibility and holds herself accountable for the military decisions. Every death took a personal toll on her, each soldier was someone’s child, leaving us to wonder about the cost the war had on her.

Screenwriter Nicholas Martin acknowledges the fragile, conditional nature of Israel’s alliance with the U.S. Focusing on Meir’s ability to negotiate a compromise with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (played by Liev Schreiber) knowing that the United States would oppose a pre-emptive strike, Meir, finds an acceptable answer.

Expose in Integrity

Chain-smoking throughout, Meir painstakingly forced her cabinet to find a solution without sacrificing lives. She trusted her intelligence and honored political alliances. When Zvi Zamir (Rotem Keinan), the director-general of the Mossad, raised concerns about a buildup of Egyptian troops signaling an impending attack, she aired on the side of caution, waiting for confirmation from Mossad’s listening system. A decision that left Israel exposed, a decision she owned, and haunted her.

The movie explores the character of this empathetic leader, who displayed fierce authority, grandmotherly warmth, and resolute determination. Golda reminds us that politics, ethics, and compassion can co-exist, and should be qualities of world leaders.

Golda was released on August 25th and is available online for personal watching at www.goldafilm.com

*****

Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed. 

Golda received a 4 Challah rating

Run time: 1 hour, 40 minutes