Visions of Eight

Eight filmmakers are tasked with capturing the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. The first seven segments have these filmmakers do their artistic efforts with the games. It's a lot of close-ups and slow-motion. It's not always the most compelling. Some are more interesting visually than others. I'm not expecting a wall-to-wall documentary about the terrorist disruption especially considering the probable involvement of the IOC. John Schlesinger's last segment does tackle the elephant in the room but mostly as the backdrop affecting the marathon runners. The race is delayed and they have to keep their mind on the competition. It's not the biggest swing but the terrorism is too big to ignore. In the end, the film has to stay on course and put the ugliness behind it instead of facing it head-on.

This movie has Eight of that era's top cinematographers in and from around the world. They come together along with David L. Wolper (renowned historian) to look at the 1972 Olympics thru the camera's eyes. They take you on a journey through 8 different parts of the Olympics and between segments show various clips of the unity and heartbreaks of the 1972 Olympics. A powerfully moving film that will inspire spirit into those who adore the Olympics for what they truly stand for and the thrill of victory, and defeat in some cases. At times, it seems a bit of a documentary but when the cameras roll and the director wants to show his talents... do not blink because you will miss the artistry that ensues. A must see if you can find.

What an incredibly lame documentary. Seven of the eight film makers would have you believe that this particular Olympics was notable for...pole vaulting! Or weight lifting! Only John Schlesinger, to his eternal credit, deals with the 800 lb terrorist in the room. It's as if a team of reporters were covering the unveiling of a new built bridge and in the middle of their coverage the bridge collapses and all but one reporter blithely ignore it.. Simply amazing. And depressing. C minus.

"Visions of 8" is the pinnacle of series of arty olympic movies which started with movie "Tokyo Olympiad" (1965) and ended with Juri Ozerov's "Sports -- You Are The Peace" (1981). Ozerov was one of the eight directors of Munich movie and he was clearly influenced by the movie when he was making his one for Moscow olympics.

"Visions of 8" is not about reportage, not about just showing the events, not about giving information. It is about pure art cinematography. The movie is massively formalistic and thats why common people don't like it. It has very excessive editing, brave cinematography and very little real storytelling. Thats why I call it the craziest one.

The movie is the monument of heydays of film and photography which were in 1960s and 70s. The days are long gone.

For people who love art of film, this movie is must be. The most psychedelic and daring movie about an event of strict rules you can ever imagine.

Here's a very unusual view of the Olympics. It's not the vast number of cameramen involved; that's a given with the Olympics. It's that this movie is credited to eight directors, all of them distinguished: Kon Ichikawa -- back after TOKYO OLYMPIAD; Milos Forman; Claude Lelouch; Yuriy Ozerovnn; Michael Pfleghar; John Schlesinger; and Mai Zetterling. Each of them speaks a brief introduction to his - or her -- segment; and then there's music by Henry Mancini, for more orotund and distinguished than his usual sprightly, rag tunes.

There have been brilliant Olympic movies, and annoying ones, and movies that seemed to be collections that sort of vaguely showed you the exertions while muttering platitudes. The choices made in the production of this one strive valiantly to live up to those ideals, and I think it succeeds.

It's dedicated to the eleven athletes murdered at the Olympics.