Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations

2h 7m of Nazi propaganda and some athletic bullshit. Two of my least favourite things. Shite.

2h 7m of Nazi propaganda and some athletic bullshit. Two of my least favourite things. Shite.

The things I have to watch for this history degree

The things I have to watch for this history degree

If I didn’t already know it was propaganda, it would likely have flown under my radar. Some very impressive sequences in this, especially the sprinting and marathon bits.

Also: holy crap, Jessie Owens was FAST

If I didn’t already know it was propaganda, it would likely have flown under my radar. Some very impressive sequences in this, especially the sprinting and marathon bits.

Also: holy crap, Jessie Owens was FAST

fascinating in a way that makes my stomach churn.

fascinating in a way that makes my stomach churn.

Ugh. Watching Nazi Propaganda again. What has my life come to... But no really, outside of presenting a sense of national pride (for Nazi Germany, but still, it's the country hosting the Olympics, that's almost normal), this is just a damn good historical document of the 1936 Olympics. Riefenstahl's choices here are so incredibly innovative, most of how we film modern athletics is owed to her. But still Nazis. Though as I say will all art and history, always healthily doubt the narrator. Nice to see Jesse Owens kick ass though. Probably will watch part 2 tomorrow.

Ugh. Watching Nazi Propaganda again. What has my life come to... But no really, outside of presenting a sense of national pride (for Nazi Germany, but still, it's the country hosting the Olympics, that's almost normal), this is just a damn good historical document of the 1936 Olympics. Riefenstahl's choices here are so incredibly innovative, most of how we film modern athletics is owed to her. But still Nazis. Though as I say will all art and history, always healthily doubt the narrator. Nice to see Jesse Owens kick ass though. Probably will watch part 2 tomorrow.