The simple one word title in the 2016 Stephen Hopkins film “Race” means so much more. On the surface its the obvious; “Race” is the true story of Jesse Owens, a collegiate track star and champion athlete who would shock the world with record speed and performance at the infamous 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Dig deeper and we see the uphill climb Owens faced in the wake of adversity, segregation, and flat out racial discrimination in both Nazi Germany and his home town of Columbus Ohio.
In 1933 Columbus, a 19 year old Jesse Owens (Stephen James) is the first member of his family to attend college, and as he prepares to leave his impoverished neighborhood for the glory of Ohio State University, he doesn’t forget his roots, advising his proud and hard working loving parents that he will succeed in school, and work when he can to send money back home. We get a further glimpse of his personal character when he promises long time girlfriend and mother of his 3 year old daughter that he will eventually be well off enough for marriage.
“Race” is a historical period piece – set a handful of decades after the Civil War and a handful of years before World War II. While blacks have been liberated in the US, racial tensions are still at deadly levels. The site of a segregated bus Jesse takes to school is confounding, and the reaction he and his friends get on the campus is something out of deep Confederate lore. Owens ends up on the track team because blacks aren’t allowed to play football. You’ll quickly have to remind yourself this is Columbus Ohio, and not Birmingham, Alabama.
Stephen James is a perfect choice in the role of Jesse Owens. James plays the character with a degree of subdued coolness, not far removed from present day athletes. Yes, he’s the fastest. Yes, he’s the best, and while grounded in his life as someone of color and poverty, he’s not afraid to let you know it.
Jesse’s gifted speed draws the attention of track coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis) who is jeopardy of losing his job in shame after 3 straight seasons of defeat. I facetiously thought track would be a sport that doesn’t require much coaching or strategy, but an early scene proves me wrong as Coach Snyder meets Jesse and quickly assesses his flaws after offering great praise. “It takes more than legs to win.” He tells him, and though the Olympics are still a few years off, the plan is set that that’s the ultimate goal.
Jason Sudeikis is a comedy actor, known for roles in ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ’30 Rock.’ Here, Sudeikis displays more than just humor in the role of Coach Snyder – a hard nosed competitor if ever there were one, and a temporary father figure and protector of Jesse. Coach Snyder doesn’t sugarcoat the racial tensions brewing at every turn in Columbus. He offers Jesse the tools to deal with it. “I heard they don’t care much for colored folk over there.” Jesse responds in referencing the German capital of Berlin. “Well, they don’t care much for them in Columbus either.” Coach Snyder truthfully advises, and the bond between the two is formed.
While “Race” follows Jesse’s collegiate career as a track star in preparation for the Olympics, we witness the simultaneous drama and scandals that still accompany college sports and the Olympics to this day. The NCAA has long been the brunt of criticism for special treatment of athletes, and boosters, and money flowing secretly behind the scenes. We see this practice alive and flourishing as far back as the 1930’s as Coach Snyder advises Jesse he doesn’t care about his grades and provides him with a no-show job so he ca focus on the track team.
Likewise the Olympics are often critiqued for scandal involving steroids, judges, and cheating. No such darker cloud has come from Berlins 1936 hosting of the games. In a pre-social media and global era, little is known about what exactly is going on in Germany under Adolph Hitler. Rumors persist but in 1933, its just that. Jeremy Irons plays Olympic committee member Avery Brundage, who travels to Berlin and meets with Reich Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels (Barnaby Metschurat) who offers bribes to make certain the United States participates in the games.
“Race” offers the viewer a great and entertaining movie and a look back at history as well. German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl (Carice van Houten) records the games, and while she is under the watchful eye of Goebbles, still captures the excitement and drama. Her actual footage is dispersed periodically throughout offering the real life historical take, from the menacing Nazi salute from hundreds of thousands of Germans in the stands to the phenomenal and touching sequence between Jesse Owens and German track star Luz Long (David Kross).
The ominous prequels to the horrific events of WWII are present. Chilling scenes include Avery Brundage landing at a German airport that is clearly housing military bombers, or a great scene in which Jesse steps out onto the field and is engulfed amidst the shadows of the Hindenburg flying overhead.
“Race” is a great movie on both a historical and entertaining standpoint. Its well acted and crafted, and is sure to touch at your heart.
by – Matt Christopher
