:
Natto Wada,
Natto Wada,
Shuntaro Tanikawa,
more...
:
Kon Ichikawa,
Kon Ichikawa
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Criterion
: Documentary, Foreign, Japan, Sports, Sports Documentary, Criterion Collection
: 170 min.
: Japanese
: English
see additional details...
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The 18th Olympiad was the first Games event held in Asia; Tokyo had been scheduled to host in 1940, but that Olympiad was canceled because of the war. Japan was determined not only to be a good host, but also to provide a record of the games to rival that of Leni Riefenstahl's legendary Olympia. Respected filmmaker Kon Ichikawa (The Harp of Burma, Fires on the Plain) and an army of technicians recorded the games in widescreen images, the most striking occurring near the beginning of the film, as a runner with the Olympic torch is shown in long shot with the sunlit Mt. Fuji in the background. Ichikawa offers stylistic touches to emphasize certain aspects of the athletes' struggle to achieve: slow-motion, amplified sound, extreme close-ups, and still photos in black-and-white. The chronological coverage, which reveals that many days of competition were hampered by rain, includes a wide variety of sports, from track and field events to gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, fencing, judo, shooting, cycling, equestrian events, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, canoeing, rowing, sailing, walking, and the pentathlon. Spectators cheer enthusiastically for their country's athletes, and there is one memorable shot of the press room, with hundreds of typewriters clattering away. Ichikawa devotes the film's longest segment to the final event, the marathon. Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, a relentless runner whose technique is examined in slow motion, won the gold, pulling away from the competition with apparent ease. The coverage is balanced; when a Japanese athlete wins a medal, it's noted but not dwelled upon. Originally released at nearly three hours, Tokyo Olympiad was shamelessly edited for U.S. release to half that length, with insipid narration added. Fortunately, a restored version was made available in 1984. It's important to see the film in its widescreen version, as several of the shorter track events were filmed head-on to include all of the runners on the track. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
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| The Art of Sport
by PatMac
November 30, 2004 - 4:48 PM PST
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1 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| Totally unique. This film is a beautiful meditation on the human body. It reminds me a bit of Werner Herzog's documentaries...the attention to detail, the pacing, the sparse narration. A great look back at sports before our hyper-commercialization took over and made each athlete a product. |
| Best Sports Documentary Ever!
by AddisonDewitt
January 20, 2004 - 9:54 AM PST
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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| This film is potentially the best sports documentary ever. The Criterion DVD restores the film to its proper length (nearly 3 hours) and explains the criticisms very well of this great film project. DVD is the right medium to see this film on because parts of this film are meant to be seen just for their own story. It celebrates the athlete and not the triumph of the sport. Recommend viewing of the Women's 800, Women's Hurdles, The Hammer Throw, the Shotput, the 100 meter dash, and the shooting. Great cinematography how sport is played and the emotions behind it minus who wins or loses. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.37)
54 Votes
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