Giochi olimpici

The film catches the spirit of 1968. The glance is on the individual against odds and the joy of sport, not -as in previous olympic films and as the mexican government expected- in the "greatness", the solemnity of ceremonies or the "participation" of the masses. It is also the first olympic film to take a deep look on losers: the scene of the arrival of the last marathonian made a breakthrough on the way we look at sports. Or film them. It could have given a critical view of the events before the games (the massacre in Tlatelolco), but was constrained by its' sponsor: the government. Anyway, in Mexico young guys liked it, but it was abhorred by older folks.

This movie indeed catches the spirit of 1968 and what the young Mexican people was experiencing. The Olympics as presented in this movie where a success in terms of people meeting people. The Mexican people took on their own the welcoming of all the athletes and visitors, Mexicans expressed openly as it is for them natural, their unconditional friendship and hospitality.

For the first time Mexico won a medal, a bronze medal that no matter how small it was the prize the masses went out to celebrate Mexico! This movie also shows the spirit of the Mexican athletes who participated not to win but to represent their country showing effort, the pain of the events happening then, a government who doesn't deserve their people, the poor, humble, illiterate but noble people, the greatness of their spirit no matter the economical circumstances.