Race English Movie

Say the name 'Jesse Owens' and people will respond with a vague, 'Was he a sportsman of some sort?' But everyone has heard of Hitler. This gem of a film shows us how a young African American rises above the discrimination he suffers because of his race and becomes the greatest Olympian ever, teaching Hitler a lesson in humility. Mar 10, 2016 By Manisha Lakhe

Young JC (Jesse) Owens comes from the wrong side of the tracks and you want to ask him like Coach Snyder of Ohio State University does: Why are you here?

Jesse knows nothing better than what his school coach has told him: Coach Snyder is the best.

Although the relationship is rocky at first, the film shows us how amazing a connect between an athlete and coach can be. After that the movie goes from strength to strength, and you mentally tick all the boxes that will make you happy.

The story is heartwarming from the word 'go'. A young man from a discriminated world rises above his background and finishes first. A coach who stands up for someone from an obviously less privileged life but has enormous talent. The coach helps the lad to qualify for the Olympics in Berlin. How will he do on world stage?

The hero, there are two, really: the athlete and the coach. Both amazing characters. Young Jesse Owens who has the talent, but has such a huge baggage that goes with being African American in a time where the race divide was huge. Despite the fact that Indians have lived with the caste system for so long, the obvious discrimination that we see in the movie is shocking. That's why Jesse Owens' self control and simmering anger are amazing to watch. Coach Snyder, on the other hand is so tolerant, he does not think Jesse's color matters at all. He sees Jesse as an athlete. That's why when Jesse shares the reason why he runs with the NAACP man, you are overcome with this desperate need to try and run yourself. Coach Snyder is such a wonderful person, you wish you had coaches like that at your college.

There are other characters who are memorable too: the dogged perfection seeker Leni Reifenstahl, the stern Goebbels, the deal-maker for the Olympic committee Avery Brundage, and last but not the least, Jesse Owens' competitor Carl 'Luz' Long, a shining example of sportsmanship.

In fact, had this film been about an Indian, politicians would be courting people by making this film tax free. You might say, well this movie ticks all the right boxes, so it's predictable. But it makes you feel so heart whole when you see such inspiring stories, you make room for them in your heart.