RACE

Canada/Germany/France, 2016, 134 minutes, Colour.
Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton, William Hurt, David Kross, Barnaby Metschurat.
Directed by Stephen Hopkins.

Race is in a long line of films about Olympic Games and has some footage from possibly the most famous Olympic Games film, Leni Riefenstahl’is Olympics. Stockholm 1912 was represented with Burt Lancaster in Man of Bronze, the Paris Olympics with the British runners in Chariots of Fine, memories of Zatopek in in Helsinki 1952 in The Games. There have been many documentaries about subsequent games as well. But, possibly most memorable, with a films and television movies and documentaries about the killing of the Israeli athletes in Munich, 1972.

This is a film about the 1936 Olympics, scenes of the meetings of the Olympic Committee with representation by Jeremiah Mahoney (William Hurt) who wanted to withdraw because of his criticism of Marxism and also by Avery Brundage (Jeremy Irons) who advocated going. The committee said Brundage to Berlin and he had discussions with Goebbels (an interesting performance by German Barnaby Mitchell at, with Goebbels small, silent and sinister, speaking English, his words not always being translated accurately until finally buying Leni Riefenstahl). Brundage was able to do a deal with Goebbels about minimising propaganda but, in fact, Hitler left several competitions, especially when Jesse Owens one. Goebbels is also able to blackmail Brundage over a plan to build a new German Embassy in Washington DC by his company, with plans by Albert Speer. He threatened Brundage with exposure if Jewish American athletes were not withdrawn from the relay.

The film was also reported on athletes, Jesse Owens, very well portrayed by Stephane James. It shows his life in Cleveland Ohio, his family background, his relationship with Ruth and their daughter, his going to college, his pleading running, his being supported by Ohio champion and coach, Larry Snyder

1. Dramatising of history? The 1930s? The United States? Nazi Germany? The Olympic Games, sprints and broad jump? The portrait of Jesse Owens?

2. The title and its two meanings?

3. Cleveland Ohio, homes, shops, campus and grounds, garages? Dormitories, showers and change rooms? The tour around America, the different states, Nebraska?

4. Berlin, the 1930s, streets, buildings, Nazi flags, the attacks on the Jews, Nazi offices, meetings, plans and deals? The musical score?

5. The Olympic Games, the tradition films about Olympics? Berlin, the new stadium? The interiors, accommodation, the track and field? No segregation? The crowd attending the games? The races and the podiums?

6. The story of Jesse Owens? The portrayal by Stephan James? Age, family background, with his mother and the new coat, going to college? His father, tentative? His relationship with Ruth, her work at the hairdressers, the daughter? The story of proposals and Ruth not being ready? The experience of college, his friend Dave? The farewell with his father, the bonds? Friends and backing? At college, running, Larry watching him, summoning him to the office, the discussion, the challenge and change, sports, the training, the demonstrations, the trials and Jesse’s performance? The breaking of records? 100 m, 200 m, broad jump? On tour, the club, the girl and the dancing, the affair? Ruth and the papers? The break and the girl abruptly going? His return, the apology to Ruth? Waiting outside, walking with her, the proposal, her acceptance, the wedding?

7. The Olympic story parallel to that of Jesse Owens? The meetings of the committee, Jeremiah Mahoney and his opposition to Nazism, wanting to withdraw from the games? Avery Brundage? His arguments in favour? The discussions amongst the committee, the speeches? Sport, politics? Nazi bigotry and humiliations? The role of Hitler? Sending Brundage to Berlin, the encounter with Goebbels, his speaking German only, the translation and its modifications? The proposal about restricting Nazi propaganda, Goebbels agreeing? The meetings in Washington, the building of the German Embassy, the plans, Albert Speer? Brundage’s caution – but later coming up during the games and Goebbels using it to blackmail Brundage to eliminate Jewish relay runners? The vote, close, going to Berlin?

8. The preparation for the games, Jesse and his decisions, Larry and his advice, the preparation? The visit of the delegate from the NCAAP, the arguments? The dilemma for Jesse, asking advice of Ruth, throwing it back to him? Larry, the arguments? His sprint rival? Wanting him to go? The decision? The support?

9. Larry Snyder as a person, his past career, success, his wife leaving him, the daughter? His being a top coach? Having the Ohio State record for 12 years? Watching Jesse, stern, friendship and discipline? The admiration, the demands? The tours? His stands in the changing room against the prejudice? Later with the bigoted coach wanting an apology from Jese? The arguments about the Olympics? His wanting to go as a coach, the committee refusing? His buying a ticket, going steerage, his being present, support for Jesse?

10. The atmosphere of the games, the crowds, the bigotry (and in parallel to the anti--black prejudice in the US meetings)? The change to acclaim? Jesse, concentrating and focusing, the exercises and their being mocked?

11. The hundred metres, his winning? Hitler leaving? Brundage taking Jesse to meet Goebbels? Goebbels reference to Jesse Owens as shaking hands with “that�? Hitler returning for the other events, and leaving again? Goebbels sitting and presiding?

12. The broad jump, Jesse and the fouls? The seeming prejudice? Lutz, the handkerchief? His good jumps, the rivalry with Lutz, Lutz’s foul, Jesse winning, breaking the record? Lutz and congratulations, together and their lap? Lutz risking his career with Goebbels? The two talking in the room about Nazism? Friendship? The later information that he was sent to the Russian front, keeping in touch with Jesse, but killed in action?

13. The 200 m and the win?

14. Leni Riefenstahl, her strong character, the Triumph of the Will, Hitler’s filmmaker? Making a film of the Olympic Games? The demands on Goebbels, the cameras, their positioning? Her capturing everything? Goebbels forbidding the filming of the 200 m and her defying him? Her translating for Brundage? Her later retakes with Jesse for the broad jump? The motivations?

15. Hitler and Goebbels, against the Jews, the blackmailing of Brundage about the building? The pep talk, the coaches, Brundage present, dropping the Jews? Wanting Jesse to run? His reluctance? The Jewish men endorsing him and encouraging him? The running of the relay, success, Jesse Owens and his fourth gold medal?

16. Information about the war and the consequences?

17. Larry Snyder’s career, Olympic Coach, going to Rome? Brundage and his heading the committee for decades?

18. Jesse Owens, Ruth and the family, their long life? No acknowledgement from the White House for his gold medals? The honour posthumously?

19. A film about American sport, history and a portrait of a fine athlete?