Golda focuses on Israel’s Prime Minister Golda Meir as she faces internal and political pressures during the Yom Kippur War, as she fights for her dignity and the existence of the state of Israel.

Helen Mirren shows up as she always does and disappears into the role of Golda Meir in this biopic, elevating what would’ve been a very slow, by-the-numbers historical film otherwise. Besides some amazing make-up work on her, Mirren emulates the spirit of a fighter, who was balancing personal health and guilt struggles with the weight of making decisions that could determine the fate of her reputation and her country’s fragile existence forever. She captures Meir’s cocky but patient, empathetic, and demanding spirit very vividly. Camille Cottin also does a good job as Meir’s personal assistant who becomes family to her, but unfortunately, she’s the only member of the supporting cast who feels interesting or soulful, though Liev Schreiber has a solid scene that he shares with Mirren.

Though Mirren’s performance carries the film, it also struggles with its pace, as some of the decision-making scenes feel repetitive, and even with its 100-minute runtime, it could’ve been more engaging. But it’s also a huge step up from Hollywood’s last big take on Israeli history, 2018’s 7 Days in Entebbe, which was a disaster. Though Golda isn’t that much more memorable or a necessary theater watch, the outstanding lead performance makes it a much easier watch and I’d even argue it’s a great gateway into Israeli history, and thematically strong about people making sacrifices and battling for Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state, while being respectful to the soldiers and their loved ones involved in the Yom Kippur War.