Review of Race (2016) by Richard S — 08 Feb 2017

This was a really decent biopic charting the life of Jesse Owens who went on to win 4 gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1936. The film charts Jesse's rise from unknown and unwanted athlete who experienced racial prejudice at every step until he reached the top of his game and became a champion in the eyes of those who had previously dismissed him on racial grounds.

The film also covers a struggle behind closed doors as the Olympic committee debated whether it was morally correct to endorse Nazi Germany hosting the Olympic Games as news and rumours of their human rights abuses started to emerge.

We also get a glimpse into the lives of those who helped Jesse along the way including his German rival Luz Long and the woman behind what was meant to be Nazi Germany's propaganda film but turned out to showcase Jesse Owen's talents, Leni Riefenstahl.

Despite already knowing the outcome it was still a tense film with great performances from the central characters. It's also quite a sad story, knowing that despite returning to the United States an Olympic champion, Jesse Owens was still treated like a second class citizen.