Restored: Tokyo Olympiad (1965)
Celebrating the classics of Asian cinema and beyond, Restored is a regular series showcasing Asian films that have been meticulously preserved and restored by different institutions from across the world. The platform revisits these classics in a new light and allows them to be appreciated by new generations of audiences.
Kon Ichikawa’s Tokyo Olympiad remains one of the greatest films ever made about sports, capturing both the triumphs and struggles of the throng of athletes who made up the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Catch the restored version at Oldham Theatre.
Original Title: 東京オリンピック
Directed by: Kon Ichikawa
Runtime: 169 minutes
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Rating: Exempted
© JOC – International Olympic Committee – All rights reserved
Showtimes
Sunday, 18 July 2021, 5pm
Saturday, 24 July 2021, 4pm
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Oldham Theatre’s opening hours
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, 6 July 2021 from 9am.
Friends of AFA members may select the “Friends of AFA” option and enter your membership number if you wish to redeem your remaining complimentary tickets.
For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org
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Full Synopsis
As Japan plays host to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo for the second time in history, it does so amidst furious debate about the ongoing pandemic that had already forced the Games to be delayed by a year. It is now more apt than ever to take a look back in time when the nation first sprang into the global sporting limelight.
Hailed as one of the greatest sports documentaries ever made, Kon Ichikawa’s film captures the 1964 Games with groundbreaking widescreen images and cutting-edge techniques. Displaying expansive shots of patriotic glory alongside intimate records of the many triumphs and heartbreaks of spectators and athletes, Ichikawa enthralls in this cinematic paean to the beauty and intensity of the Olympic Games.
About the Director
Kon Ichikawa was born in Honshū, Japan, in 1915. Born Giichi Ichikawa, he was re-named “Kon” by an uncle who felt the characters in kanji “崑” symbolised good luck. He worked first as an animator right after graduation in 1933 before moving on to films when his company shut down its animation department.
Ichikawa’s versatile ouvre stretches wide between the government-commissioned documentary Tokyo Olympiad, and his antimilitarist features, satires, gangster films and melodramatic thrillers. Throughout his many highly respected features, Ichikawa shared a successful aesthetic and screenwriting partnership with wife, Natto Wada.
In 1965, the documentary bagged him the BAFTA United Nations Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Documentary. His film Odd Obsession won the Jury Prize at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.
Ichikawa remains one of the most prolific and revered filmmakers from Japan. He died in Tokyo in February, 2008, at the age of 92.
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Important Notice:
Do note that Oldham Theatre does not play ads and screenings will start promptly. Arrive early so as not to disrupt the screenings. All patrons are encouraged to purchase your tickets online to be able to secure a seat. Seats are limited due to social distancing regulations. If you choose to purchase tickets or merchandise at Oldham Theatre’s box office, cashless payment is preferred.
Measures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of all patrons at Oldham Theatre. This includes wearing a mask at all times for both staff and patrons, temperature taking, SafeEntry logging and observance of social distancing around the theatre. Doors will open 20 minutes before showtime, so arrive early to register, take your temperature and find a seat.
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