Review #45 | "Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations" (1938)

Leni Riefenstahl’s 1938 documentary Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations chronicles the Berlin Olympics unlike the Olympics have ever been documented before. Opening on a glorified montage of Greek heritage, the mise en scene evokes a sacred, almost sexual tension with human statues, low lighting, and clouds of fog. Not only is the montage a representation of the ancient Olympics, but the propaganda of the Nazi Party certainly evokes a similar mythology. Riefenstahl’s film does not purposefully advertise Nazi influence, aside from the many cameos of Adolf Hitler. Even so, such appearances are akin to those of a president, monarch, or Prime Minister and do not intend to glorify Hitler. Today’s post WWII psychology is intense baggage that must be internally rationalized. The coverage of the Games itself feels rudimentary compared to today’s tactics. Voiceover commentary of the events lends a feeling of a newscast rather than an observational documentary. Even so, Festival of Nations documents the 11th modern Olympic Games in a compelling format that will be studied for decades.

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Runs 1 hour and 51 Minutes