Golda

In October 1973, Mossad intelligence signals Egypt and Syria are preparing a major military campaign against Israel. Golda Meir dismisses the threat and says she cannot act without defense minister Moshe Dayan's backing. Dayan is equally skeptical, leaving her with a shaky sense of preparedness.

On Yom Kippur, Golda's inner circle informs her that Egypt has amassed a large force opposite the Suez Canal and that hostilities will begin by sundown. She refuses a full pre-emptive strike but orders a partial mobilization to face the threat. The attack nevertheless breaks out earlier than expected, catching Israel off guard, and Dayan views the situation with alarm.

Dayan travels to the Golan Heights and discovers Syria's forces have launched a thorough attack against ill-prepared Israeli troops. He is dazed and attempts to resign, but Golda talks him out of it. The episode leaves her with a growing loss of confidence in his leadership.

IDF Chief of Staff David Elazar pushes to relieve Sinai fortifications by deploying the 162nd Division under Avraham Adan. Zvi Zamir, head of Mossad, objects to the plan, but it proceeds anyway. The operation stalls and the Egyptians repel the Israeli force, highlighting the Sinai front's vulnerability.

With the Syrian offensive pressing, Dayan proposes an air strike on Damascus to pressure Egypt. The plan founders due to a shortage of combat aircraft, and the IAF cannot proceed. Golda appeals to U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for surplus jets, and he reluctantly agrees to help.

Maj. Gen. Ariel Sharon proposes an operation to cross the canal with the 143rd Division to challenge the Egyptian Second and Third Armies. Zvi Zamir warns that the Egyptians could cross the canal in two days, leaving Cairo undefended. The plan moves forward amid warnings and strategic calculations.

The Egyptians cross the canal and meet resistance from Israeli tank forces led by Haim Bar-Lev, who push them back and inflict losses. The Israeli defense holds, halting the Egyptian advance for the moment. The frontline dynamics shift as both sides adapt to the new phase of fighting.

On 15 October, Sharon's forces cross the canal at the undefended 'Chinese Farm' crossing and are ambushed by Egyptian units, yet they maintain their positions. In parallel, Elazar moves to barricade the Third Army by cutting Suez from Cairo, aiming to force Egyptian concessions. Kissinger privately visits Golda and urges a ceasefire.

Kissinger's private intervention adds top-level diplomatic pressure as Golda pursues her strategic plan. She continues toward negotiations despite the international push for a ceasefire. The sequence highlights the convergence of military and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

By the twentieth day, both sides move toward diplomatic talks and agree to exchange prisoners of war, signaling a de-escalation of hostilities. The negotiations consolidate as the military momentum shifts into a political settlement. The war, while not immediately resolved, trends toward a pause in major fighting.

Zvi Zamir privately informs Golda that IDF intelligence chief Eli Zeira failed to monitor Egyptian signals effectively, allowing Israel to be attacked unawares. Golda chooses to shoulder the blame publicly to shield the IDF from controversy. The moment underscores the personal costs of wartime leadership.

Despite a strategic victory, the war exacts an emotional toll on Golda, who is later diagnosed with cancer. The strain of leadership during the conflict compounds her aging and personal burdens. The film portrays a leader bearing heavy scars beyond the battlefield.

In 1974, Golda testifies before the Agranat Commission about her conduct during the war. She states, off the record, that she genuinely felt war was certain, and the commission ultimately clears her of wrongdoing. The public narrative emphasizes accountability without liability for the broader war effort.

On 8 December 1978, Golda Meir dies bedridden while watching footage of her meeting with Anwar Sadat from the previous year. The film notes she lived to see the Camp David Accords, the first formal peace steps between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Her legacy endures in the peace process that followed.