Tokyo Olympiad

Tokyo Olympiad

1965 · 170 min · JA · 7.6 (36 votes)
Dir. Kon Ichikawa · Starring Abebe Bikila, Ahmed Issa, Yoshinori Sakai, Joe Frazier, Emperor Hirohito of Japan · Music Toshirō Mayuzumi · 100 Years of Olympic Films: 1912–2012
Documentary

This impressionistic portrait of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics pays as much attention to the crowds and workers as it does to the actual competitive events. Highlights include an epic pole-vaulting match between West Germany and America, and the final marathon race through Tokyo's streets. Two athletes are highlighted: Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila, who receives his second gold medal, and runner Ahamed Isa from Chad, representing a country younger than he is.

VIBE

A grand, sweeping look at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It captures the immense scale of the event, focusing on the human element, the dedication of athletes, and the collective spirit of a global gathering. It feels both grand and intimate.

inspiringtriumphantobservationalepicsteadydocumentarycinéma véritéepic scopeathleticismnational pridehuman spiritglobalism
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sportsolympic gamestokyojapan
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