Olympia (1938 film)

Olympia is a landmark documentary film about the 1936 Summer Olympics. It was directed, written, and produced by Leni Riefenstahl. The film captures the athletic competitions held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. It is divided into two distinct parts. The first part is titled "Olympia 1. Teil — Fest der Völker," which means Festival of Nations. This part lasts 126 minutes. The second part is "Olympia 2. Teil — Fest der Schönheit," or Festival of Beauty. It runs for 100 minutes. The film is famous for its visual style. However, it is also controversial because of its political ties to the Nazi period.

To create this documentary, Riefenstahl used many groundbreaking motion picture techniques. These methods eventually became industry standards for filming sports. She utilized unusual camera angles to capture the action from new perspectives. She also used smash cuts and extreme close-ups to focus on specific details. To get wide views, she placed tracking shot rails within the stadium stands. She even attached automatic cameras to balloons to capture aerial footage. Some cameras were placed in boats during practice runs to follow the athletes.

One of the most significant innovations in the film was the use of an underwater camera. This technique allowed the crew to capture the movement of divers. The camera would follow the divers through the air. As soon as they hit the water, the cameraman dived down with them. The crew had to change the focus and the aperture, which is the opening of the lens, while underwater. This created a visual effect where the patterns of movement became almost abstract. This specific technique is often cited as a highlight of the film's artistry.

The production of the film was deeply connected to the Nazi government. While Riefenstahl claimed the International Olympic Committee commissioned the work, the government financed it entirely. They used a company called Olympia Film GmbH to pay for the project. The Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda oversaw the entire production. Joseph Goebbels, a high-ranking official, discussed the film with Riefenstahl starting in June 1935. Eventually, Goebbels, Adolf Hitler, and Carl Diem all agreed that Riefenstahl was the best director for the job.

The budget for the film grew significantly during its development. It began with an initial amount of 1.5 million ℛ︁ℳ. By the end of production, the cost had risen to 2.35 million ℛ︁ℳ. Riefenstahl spent two years editing the footage. The film's release was delayed by the Anschluss, which was the annexation of Austria. The film was finally approved by censors on April 14, 1938. It was released on April 20, 1938, which was Adolf Hitler's 49th birthday.

Despite its political controversy, the film was a commercial success in Germany. By 1943, it had earned a profit of 114,066.45 ℛ︁ℳ. Riefenstahl attempted to distribute the film in the United States. During her travels, she met famous figures like Henry Ford and Walt Disney. However, her efforts were stopped by protests from groups like the Jewish Labor Committee. Later, in 1948, a truncated and heavily edited version was released in the U.S. under the title "Kings of the Olympics."

The legacy of Olympia is complex and multifaceted. In 1960, Riefenstahl's peers voted it one of the ten best films of all time. It has appeared on many prestigious lists, including Time magazine's "All-Time 100 Movies." The film won several awards, including an Olympic Gold Medal from the International Olympic Committee in 1939. It also won the Best Film award at the Venice Film Festival in 1938. Even today, its influence can be seen in modern culture. For example, the music video for the song "Stripped" by the band Rammstein uses footage from the film.