1999, 1 hr 30 min., Documentary. Dir: Kevin Macdonald. Narrator: Michael Douglas.

When a movie based on historical truth is released, I accept any alterations to jibe with "Hollywood's vision," and say that if you want exact facts, watch the History Channel or a documentary.

One Day in September is a great example of the power of reality sans actors and studio oversight. The emotion and artistry to tell such a vivid and tragic tale cannot be told by Tom Cruise, only the people involved can translate it to the viewer. There could never be an actually movie made that could come close to conveying the emotions of the families of the 11 slain Israelis, and the cold dedicated terror of the Palestinians.

The documentary, directed by Kevin Macdonald, vividly recalls the 1972 Munich Olympics, which were marred by Palestinian terrorists taking Israeli athletes hostage, then killing them during a botched rescue attempt by the German police. Macdonald uses footage taken at the time, especially from ABC and host Jim McKay, as well as interviews with the families of the slain Israelis, officials and the only surviving terrorist, Jamal Al Gashey.

As the documentary progressed, I found myself angrier less at the terrorists than the inept German power structure. Besides using a bumbling security force that continually failed to free the hostages, in part due to sorry leadership and terrible planning.

On of the most important things the Germans failed to do was blacking out the public from knowing what was happening at the Olympic village, where the terrorists held the Israeli athletes. The German police should have imposed a blackout on the press, keeping camera crews far far away to prevent exactly what happened, the terrorists using that coverage to aid their situation.

As Israeli runner Esther Roth, who watched the confusion nearby, said: "All around, flash-bulbs were going off. I felt bitter. It's not a movie, it's our people we're talking about! Two were already murdered and they were making a show out of it."

The Olympic village should also have been blocked off for more than a mile surrounding instead of letting the athletes mill about and continue competing.

Which brings me to the Olympic committee. It seems that their only concern was keeping the Games in play, which was fine ultimately, but not how it was handled. I understand that they feel the Games could help heal, but to continue events during the hostage crisis was a bad, bad idea. Then starting up the Games again just hours after the airport massacre was so insensitive, so unbelievably ridiculous I can't imagine why they would do it.

As for the documentary itself, even though I knew what would happen, the pace, music and interviews kept me on the edge of my seat, anticipating what would be revealed next. When Jim McKay says the line we've seen a dozen times, "They're all gone," it has as much power and meaning now as it did years ago.

Critics of One Day in September have complained that not enough weight has been given to the political reasons behind the Palestinian terrorists' actions. I say that I don't care what their problems with Israel were; that they resorted to the actions of terrorism is enough reason for me to cheer when Macdonald shows us in a postscript that two of the three terrorists were hunted down by Israeli special forces and killed for their involvement. Al Gashey is shown in the shadows, and is hiding in Africa . When the Israeli forces finally catch up with him and kill him, I will cheer then as well.