Customer Reviews

A Woman Called Golda

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful video!!!!! It portrays the real life of Golde Meir through her own words as the elderly woman who returns to her grammar school in Wisconsin. Ingrid Bergman's last role is deffinitely one of her very best! She is very believeable as the Prime Minister of Israel. It is historically accurate and educational! I recommend it highly for students! It shows the young Nation's struggle through the eyes of this courageous woman! A tribute to Golde, Ingrid and Israel!!!!! Shalom!!!!!

A quality drama of a unique portion of 20th century history. Fairly accurate in historical detail in describing the struggles of the reborn state of Israel. Despite all contrary odds and the concerted effort of four arab nations to annihilate the state of Israel, this young struggling nation under Golda's leadership not only survives but "blooms" in the desert.

STORY - The made for TV mini-series begins with a limousine pulling up to an elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Out steps Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel and the most famous graduate of this school. Born a Russian Jew, she and her family were forced to leave Russia in the early 20th century and emigrated to the US. Golda's dream became to live in Israel. As she answers questions from the school children she flashes back to her life and the events that led to her being the Prime Minister of Israel and one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Ingrid Bergman is outstanding as always and was a great choice to play the part of Golda Meir. This is not only the story of an incredible and influential woman but it is the story of Israel, its journey to statehood and its fight to survive in the midst of its enemies. It's a great biography and an excellent history lesson. It makes one wonder what it would be like now if there were a woman of her stature in Israeli leadership. It's four hours long with the DVD divided into two sections. Well worth the investment of time to learn more about this important area of the world. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.

This is truly a great film. A inisght into the generation of jewry who dealt with the legacy of the holocaust and the millions of displaced jews that no one in the world wanted. The acting is superb-one qualm-why is this film not on dvd? really. if anyone knows let the rest of us know. we need this one on dvd for sure

I have this TV-movie on a selfmade, old VHS-tape, which is very worn.
I love the movie - I love Ingrid Bergman, but also Judy Davis (the young Golda). This DVD has been a long time coming - but since English is not my first language it would be very useful to know: Does it come with English sutitles?
Jorgensen

Ingrid Bergman does a wonderful job, as does Judy Davis, at playing the Iron Lady Golda Meir (before Thatcher, there was Golda). Golda Meir's life traced itself from the Russian Empire to the American Jewish Diaspora to the formation of Israel and through the pivotal times of war and peace.

Originally run as a television mini-series, this film shows her childhood, life on a kibbutz, early days in Israel, and times as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister in good detail, both personal and professional, to give a real sense of the woman and the political figure. From her childhood she was a determined person; her shakey marriage with Morris Meyerson is depicted with sensitivity (Leonard Nimoy plays the long-suffering Meyerson). Her ideas of hope and her determination for both security and peace are depicted with passion and humor.

Watch for cameos from people such as Ned Beatty (who plays an American senator being strong-armed into selling advanced weaponry to Israel), Nigel Hawthorne (in quite a bit of make-up as the King of Jordan who lays the political reality out for Golda Meir as to why he can't initiate peace and live), and Robert Loggia (as Anwar Sadat).

The story has good pacing; much is done in flash-back form. In part it is done through narrative device of one of Golda's political secretaries, Lou Kaddar, played by Anne Jackson. I loved the scene where Lou Kaddar interviews for the job with Golda, and presents a letter as a sample of her writing. The letter is in praise of her former employer; "He sounds like an outstanding man," Golda says, to which Lou Kaddar responds, "He was a son of a *bleep*." Golda, without missing a beat, simply replies, "You might do well at this job."

It has been a long time coming, but it is worth the wait.

The movie was as wonderful the second time watching as when I watched it on TV so many years ago. This movie earned winning 2 Emmy Awards, and Ingrid Bergman earned her Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited series or a special and winning her Globe award for best performance by an actress in a mini-series. Too bad that quality TV mini-series like Golda are no longer avilable to the viewers.

A quality drama of a unique portion of 20th century history. Fairly accurate in historical detail in describing the struggles of the reborn state of Israel. Despite all contrary odds and the concerted effort of four arab nations to annihilate the state of Israel, this young struggling nation under Golda's leadership not only survives but "blooms" in the desert.

A Woman Called Golda was originally made as a two-part television miniseries. It is an important movie on several levels, perhaps mostly because it tells the story of the State of Israel but also because it is the last film appearance by Ingrid Bergman. This is not light entertainment (at almost four hours) to be viewed casually by a fan of the late and beautiful Swedish actress. Those who remember Golda Meir know that whatever her many fine and great qualities, she was not a beauty. Ingrid wears her hair in the tight, pulled back style of Golda and is as unglamorous as she can be. However, Ingrid is brilliant in this role and this is a fitting, crowning achievement to her career. This film should be seen to remind us of a great world leader portrayed by one of the greatest stars of all time.
I give this movie only four stars because of its length, and because Ingrid Bergman appears in about one third of the actual movie. A younger actress portrays the young Golda, and there is much historical footage. It is very well done, but it is a serious work. If you just want to be entertained by Ingrid Bergman, choose one of her other wonderful films.

I bought this movie to complete a research project. The movie correctly depicted Golda's life, but there is always more to a person's life than can be contained in a movie. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of Isreal.