Tokyo Olympiad

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William L Olympia gets the lion's share of the credit (and infamy) when it comes to innovative sports documentaries. Belive me when I say that Tokyo Olympiad is head and shoulders above the Riefenstahl films, not only in the added benefit of more than a quarter century of technical innovation, but in its approach to its subject - Ichikawa focuses as much on the atmosphere of the Games, the genuine reactions of the attendees, as he does on the athletes, who he provides with compelling human-interest backstories. Some of the shots are so crisp, they look like they haven't aged a day; check out the wordless pre-fight prep for a young Joe Frazier. Perhaps the most interesting (and entertaining) aspect of Ichikawa's depiction of the games is the tone, at various times serious, uplifting, intense, and sometimes downright comedic; huge props for making fun of racewalking (which had a Monty Python-esque soundtrack over it, and is the dumbest sport ever created). The japanese women's volleyball coach who, after watching his team win gold, looked as if his dog was hit by a car just before the medal match. But it all blends perfectly and makes the runtime fly. The use of slow-motion, freeze-frame, and adding relevant context all were pivotal in establishing the form of sports broadcasting as it is known today. And Ichikawa's financiers made him edit it down to something far more propagandistic and typical. (4.5/5) Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. A time capsule of the Tokyo Olympic a in a very well made format. I'm contrast of the other famous Olympic films, this one has new tales on sport and athletes. Saw on HBO. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review scott s The beautiful thing about this film is not only showcasing the athleticism of the athletes but what the Olympic games meant to Japan, as they were banned to have any kind of participation for a decade after WWII. The excitement and the sportsmanship of all the athletes who over a decade prior were at war with one another shows the spirit of the games that no matter what is going on, in the world, the Olympics is the worlds stage to showcase the best of humanity. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the greatest documentaries ever made. It has all the important elements that go into being an athlete or a spectator in the Olympics. I say IMPORTANT because what Ichikawa's documentary contains is all the gritty suffering, all of the joyous relief, all of the celebration and all of the human solidarity that the Olympics provide. Others are more concerned with records and actual statistics, but that's not at all what the Olympics should be about and Ichikawa masterfully expresses that with beautiful widescreen presentation where every shot seems like a perfectly prepared photograph or painting. It's a truly remarkable feat. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Kon Ichikawa perfectly captures the entire 1964 Olympics in all its glory - human spirit comes to fore to give us a glimpse of utopian world peace, every four years. Brilliant narration with the occasional slow mo adds a layer to the biggest sporting event - the Volleyball finals and Marathon are worth watching. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member It might be the most influencial sports documentary ever made, but I just couldn't get into it. There was too much narration for me, and I thought looking at athletes competing without any context was dull. I'm not even remotely a sports person, so that could be the problem. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Tokyo Olympiad

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