Member review

This is a period film set in the 1930's when there was still a lot of prejudice towards black people and although this is a serious film, depicting history, I still found it very enjoyable. It was very emotional at times and wouldn't think it suitable for children under 7 as there is a lot of bad language, with strong racial undertones that many would find offensive today.

It's about a man called James Owens, known as Jesse Owens, and his struggle is to make it as a professional athlete. The film starts with Jesse leaving his girlfriend and baby daughter behind to go to college which was very rare for a black man in those days. He builds a good relationship with his coach and is chosen to represent the USA at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He is challenged to compete in a number of events at the games, much to the annoyance of the fuhrer, Adolf Hitler.

There is a lot of political intervention involved and Jesse has to do a lot of soul searching along the way, but he has to do what is best for him.