09 20 Oct '24
1125149a 3bcf 4800 9130 d61a723aa596

Leni Riefenstahl

Olympia 1. Teil - Fest der Völker (Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations)

Edition 1976
111' - 1938 - Documentary, Sport - Dialogue: German, Portuguese, Italian, French, English, Japanese
Director: Leni Riefenstahl Composer: Herbert Windt, Walter Gronostay
After being commissioned by the 1936 Olympic Committee to create a feature film of the Berlin Olympics, Riefenstahl shot a documentary that celebrates the human body by combining the poetry of bodies in motion with close-ups of athletes in the heat of competition. Includes the marathon, men's diving, and American track star Jesse Owen's sprint races at the 1936 Olympic games. The production tends to glorify the young male body and, some say, expresses the Nazi attitude toward athletic prowess. Includes the lighting of the torch at the stadium and Adolf Hitler looking on in amazement as Jesse Owens wins an unprecedented four Gold Medals.

Image gallery

1125149a 3bcf 4800 9130 d61a723aa596
De810999 c4fc 452f b634 8c0018271aea

Credits

Director

Leni Riefenstahl

Composer

Herbert Windt, Walter Gronostay

Scenario

Leni Riefenstahl

Editor

Leni Riefenstahl

More information

Dialogue

German, Portuguese, Italian, French, English, Japanese

Countries of production

Germany

Year

1938

Stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter

Do you want to stay up to date with festival news, our year-round activities, the films and the filmmakers?