Reviews

This is a dated but still quite interesting documentary that looks at the role of recreational activities in society, but also at the part played by the audiences too. From swimming to gymnastics, athletics to football the archive illustrates the benefits to body and soul of participating, but then we visit the cinema and the emphasis starts to highlight more the role of the fans. Some are enthusiastic family members, others wielding huge great beer glasses get behind their teams and then finally, we explore the political aspects of the “masses”. The Romans knew it as they packed the coliseum and Adolf Hitler knew it, too. The photography illustrates a social diversity here - men, women, young and old all take part and the gamut of emotions is there for us to see in many of it’s guises as the people deal with the successes and the failures that unfold before their eyes. It’s a look at the need for people to congregate, to compete, ideally to win and is busily cut together imbuing us with some sense of (it’s) purpose and of collectivity.