May not have mentioned this before, but I’m a huge fan of sport-themed films. Movies that show the struggles of athletes, their wins, and losses, too. And generally, since I’m a huge sports enthusiast, I look forward to these films for the few glorious hours afterwards where I imagine myself going into that field. But I think more than any sport, I’m a huge fan of track events, especially sprint races. Anyway, I remembered a sports film I heavily enjoyed, so let’s see if we’ve seen this one as well.
Race (2016)
It’s 1933 and Jesse Owens is the first in his family to go to college. He attends Ohio State University and faces intense racial discrimination, as to be expected from that era. But then, Snyder, a coach who was formerly an Olympic-level athlete, takes an interest in him and realizes how much potential he has. He also notices a lack in his form and technique and offers to train him.
Then, the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games are starting, and while Jesse is interested, the racial propaganda in Germany leaves him skeptical about his chances of excelling there. This film tells the story of all the struggles this athlete faces on his way to putting his name on the map and making history.
There’s an issue I usually have with sports films that are true stories or allude to some event in history. As is with a good deal of historical movies, there may be elements of bias and discrepancies as to the true historical event. I’d already heard of the name Jesse Owens, but it was a thrill learning and understanding his life from the up-close and personal point of view.
When it comes to celebrities and historians alike, there is a tendency for people to know and acknowledge them mainly from their achievements and possibly forget their humanity. So, there is a quickness to judge without remembering that these are just regular people like us trying to get through life.
I loved how this film was symbolic of the pain and grit involved in true athleticism and how hard it is to prove yourself as an athlete, let alone a black athlete. You just know that you have to work doubly hard for the most minimal benefits. Seeing this film, I wondered what ran through the minds of White people who also watched it. Did they see better how much of a role white privilege plays in things?
Also, I loved the acting and the casting Stephan embodied his role as Jesse Owens, and it was nice to see Jason Sudeikis away from a role that wasn't comedic in nature. A bit weird, but he made it work beautifully.
Either way, it’s a huge shame how underrated this film is. It is certainly one that has a ton of values, and as a Black person, you may feel the emotions in this film a lot deeper. It doesn’t take away the fact that it’s an incredibly enjoyable film. Maybe not exactly historically correct, but it still makes its mark. Hope you enjoy!
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