Race
Directed by Stephen Hopkins
- drama
- history
The story
Based on the story of Jesse Owens, the athlete whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-washed period colour gives way to cold grey Berlin in this biographical sports drama about Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics, shot in a polished, classical studio style with clean compositions, steady dolly moves and plenty of track-side handheld energy during the races. Interiors lean on lamplight and wood-panelled warmth, while the Nazi stadium and state spectacle are rendered in severe symmetry, banners and sharp shadows. The score is orchestral and swelling, pushing the sporting moments toward triumph. Pacing is conventional and steady, with long stretches of back-room negotiation between dinner-table conversations and bursts of competition, and the emotional register is earnest and inspirational, tracing a Black athlete navigating segregation at home and Hitler's propaganda abroad. Intensity is moderate: racist insults, humiliation and political menace are present, with brief, non-graphic moments of violence and no gore. It suits a weekend afternoon or a family viewing for people who enjoy uplifting historical sports stories and don't mind a sober look at prejudice.
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