1982 - A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA

4 hrs

Ex P: Harve Bennett
Ass Prod: Marilyn Hall
P: Gene Corman
Dir: Alan Gibson
Script: Harold Gast, Steven Gethers

Golda Meir: Ingrid Bergman
Young Golda: Judy Davis
Ariel: Jack Thompson
Anwar Sadat: Robert Loggia
Morris Meyerson: Leonard Nimoy

The prime minister of Israel in the years after the partition of the country, Golda Meir, visits her former primary school in Milwaukee. Her personal assistant gives her a subtle hint to extinguish her cigarette in the car before being seen by the children. Golda is putting her personal needs or wishes behind public interests already in the very first scene. After a concert in the school the children get a chance to ask questions. The story of her whole life unravels beginning with a ca. five year old Golda. Cossacks are trying to break into the family’s little house and their lives are in danger only for the fact that they are Jewish in a Russian village. The father's attitude to stay out of politics seems to sparkle the two daughter's determination though or because of the fact that they are afraid to be killed. Sheena, her sister is decided to become a Zionist and an active member of the organisation, and Golda promises her sister to get to Palestine as soon as she can. The family then moves to America / Milwaukee where the father found work. 

There she met the slightly older Morris Meyerson who was very special to her and introducing her to the arts. When they visit an open air concert, Golda worries whether it was drums or there was thunder. The music loving Morris shares his humor saying that if it was thunder, God had chosen the correct time to make it fit to the very right moment for this piece of music. She laughs out of her heart. They share the same level of humor when he asks her what she thinks about marriage. She wonders whether he is taking about her and himself. "I was not talking about marriage between President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson." She laughs and tells him that she loves him. He’s more shy but confesses his love to her too. They softly kiss each other. Now Golda has to tell him honestly that she will be going to Palestine to work for the Zionist Movement. He is sorry when he’s telling her: "I am sorry, Golda, I am not going." 

In the next scene dated 1921 they are on their way to a kibbutz in Palestine – a married couple. Morris has taken his most precious possession with him: A phonograph. At the kibbutz which looks every inch a very down to basic needs place, he, the professional sign maker, immediately notices the sign over the entrance: "I could do a better one with my eyes closed." The kibbutzniks will decide after three months whether the two will be accepted in the community or not. They give their best. Morris first works on fields removing large boulders from an area they want to turn into agricultural ground. This work is too heavy for the man devoted to fine arts only before. This is why the committee rather gives him another work: Plugging with a horse pulled plow. It's very heavy work too and he goes down when the horses are pulling away. Revealing that he has not lost his humor and that he is unhappy with the strict rule by the leaders of the kibbutz even controlling aspects of private life, he tells the men helping him up and wondering whether he might be sick: "How can I be sick when I don't have the permission of the committee!" Golda too does a work she would not have chosen voluntarily: Plucking chickens. She gets onto a roof to hit a valve with a hammer because the water was off. The "repair" was only done by men before. The kibbutzniks like their music and Golda and Morris share it with them some of the nights and for celebrations or festive occasions. This and other actions like ironing her dresses or wearing stockings are the only resentments brought before the committee when they are about to decide whether the two may stay. Morris’ endeavors are appreciated by the committee and the dress and stocking themes are not taken as major issues. They are accepted as kibbutzniks. 

Golda is very glad and asks Morris whether he isn’t too. He agrees that he too is happy ... for being alive after three months of kibutz – life. Talking about having children the same problem is present: Morris does not want to have their children being raised by the committee instead by themselves. They are sure about each other's love. They confirm it to each other. But now Morris has to leave the room so that he does not give in to Golda wanting children while they are in the kibbutz. For some time Golda is sent to a course in Haifa by the committee to learn how to raise chickens for the kibbutz. One night they experience an Arab attack which later on turns out having been an exercise run by the Haganah. Morris is weakened by Malaria, so Golda takes the gun to defend the kibbutz. This raises the admiration towards her by the others, but Morris is ashamed he was not able to do his duty. Morris feels sick. He does not see their future in the kibbutz and tells Golda that he has to leave. This time Golda goes with him to Jerusalem. When they are leaving, the kibbutznis put up a banner: "Shalom Golda & Morris". Morris gives his precious phonograph to the kibbutzniks. 

In Jerusalem they have to live under difficult financially circumstances. Sarah and Menachem, their two children, are still very young and Morris' income is paid by company slips which are not accepted by the local dealer. There Golda meets Ariel, an old friend from the kibbutz, again. He offers her a job in Tel Aviv. At home, Golda tells Morris about the offer. She informs him that she will take the job as secretary the Women’s council. There also would be taken care of the children by very good babysitters. Morris is hurt because she has "figured it all out". "What have you figured out about me?" he asks. She promises him to find him a job in Tel Aviv. 

During World War Two, Golda is involved in the Zionist movement. She is trying to get the now official Israeli army trained by British forces. Her marriage with Morris is broken long ago. Palestine was divided between the Jews and the Arabs in 1944. This build the foundation for an independent State of Israel Golda has worked for so hard. Morris heard her speech on the radio which made the whole country rejoice. At the celebrations for this occasion Golda and Morris meet again for the first time after many years. They talk about the children "... Manachem plays the cello just slightly better than Pablo Casals..."  And Morris is proud of Golda, of all her achievements and still loves her, reaching out for her hand. She takes it. The common ground is still there, the interest in each other and te children and the humor. He knows the state needs her and leaves going into the celebrating crowds. In 1948 the state of Israel is proclaimed – to a graet deal because of Golda's involvement in the inner and international politics as member of the Israeli Parliament, the Histradrut. Personal meetings with heads of states she combined with sharing her worries about recent developments and the suffering of various groups of people. Always questioning herself whether her decisions are right before going for an aim, Golda is Minister of Labor ( changing her surname into the Hebrew form "Meir") and later Prime Minister for two terms. Morris died 1951 and Golda – with the age of 80 – in 1978 while because of a peace treaty with Anwar El – Sadat of Egypt the country is at peace.