“7 Days in Entebbe” recounts the events surrounding the 1976 hijacking of an Air France flight and capture of its Israeli passengers who were held for ransom in an attempt to force Israel to free imprisoned terrorists. The film is an offering of Focus Features and is led by a powerful pair, Rosamund Pike and Daniel Bruhl, who play two German pro-Palestinian terrorists who instigate the kidnapping plot. Both are incredibly talented and compelling performers. Sadly, “7 Days in Entebbe” did not give them the opportunity to portray characters that truly grip the viewer, as have many of their other credits. In fact, though they eat up 50 percent of the screen time between them, the viewer leaves feeling only pity toward them, which is worrying, as they are the perpetrators of the heinous act around which the entire film revolves.
Generally, “7 Days in Entebbe” is a well-produced, well-performed, and interesting movie. The pacing of the film at times seems alternatively rushed or too slow, but any time you are telling a story that all occurs in seven consecutive days, there are going to be challenges. The film sticks closely to the historical facts, which is welcome when dealing with such a sensitive set of events.
