Helen Mirren piles on the makeup to create Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel. The film takes place during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when she’s faced with grave challenges to save the country. Mirren is in almost every scene, smoking constantly, coping with the conflict, as well as her own radiation treatments. Despite the lingering close-ups and dark personal moments, it’s presented without much emotion (except one scene with a mother). Almost all the action takes place in meetings or her home, with only mini-glances at the war itself, so it’s obviously about the strategies and politics from her POV. This film serves as a kind of personalized documentary outlining the highs and lows of the war and the legacy of peace she left behind. Interesting note: The credits list a Golda double, I’m assuming maybe for wide shots. 
(2.5 / 5)
