1968 Olympics: Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 200 metre final/Picture courtesy of SALUTE The Movie
Film: SALUTE
Director: Matt Norman
Released by: Arrow Films
Review by Joy Francis
On 16 October 1968, at the Olympics in Mexico City, African-American 200 metre gold medallist Tommie Smith and bronze medallist John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists in silent protest against racial discrimination in the US.
An iconic image etched in history, and misreported as an act of black militancy, there was another participant in this powerful gesture – white Australian and silver medallist Peter Norman.
SALUTE, a compelling documentary funded largely with Australian money, helps to bring Norman’s story to light and chronicles the lifelong bond forged between all three men on that fateful day.
Rather than start with the gloved salute, the documentary takes us on a well plotted and often emotional journey to the politically-charged gesture. The film firmly connects us with all three men, right from childhood (Smith as a farm boy in Texas, Carlos on the fringes of poverty in Harlem and Norman the son of working class Salvation Army parents from Coburg, Victoria).
With the London 2012 Games looming, the film makes no bones about how far we have come. Back then, the International Olympic Committee was led by alleged Nazi sympathiser and known racist Avery Brundage. He was determined to squash any political gesture or rumoured boycott by African-American athletes with an iron fist.
An impressive cast of Olympian athletes, coaches and evasive officials from that time, give their detailed take on what happened. Hearing how the Ivy League rowing squad was bullied out of supporting African-American athletes and the death threats levelled not just at Smith, Carlos and Norman, but their defiant and supportive coach just increases the heart rate.
“We were truthful but it wasn’t what people wanted [to hear] at that time,” says Smith. In the 20 minutes before they stepped onto the podium Norman, who barely knew Smith and Carlos, offered his support. He wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge, and history was made.
The price of that act of truth was costly. Carlos and Smith were expelled from the Olympics. Norman was severely punished by the Australian authorities. None of them ever ran for their countries again. To add insult to injury, Carlos’s two brothers, who were serving their country overseas, were pulled out of the army with no explanation.
Throughout the information rich 90 minutes, we see Smith, Carlos and Norman through the years sharing their stories – individually and together. The passion remains. Their commitment to each other is unwavering. The regrets are few but the sense of injustice is palpable. This is never more apparent than when it is revealed that Norman died of a heart attack in 2006. He never lived to watch the completed film, directed by his nephew Matt.
Despite not having a lavish budget, SALUTE excels at bringing history to life. If you are a fan of sports, racial politics, media influence and human rights there is something in this film for you. Whatever you thought you knew about the gloved salute, Norman, Carlos or Smith, think again. Watch this film and be humbled.
SALUTE opens in cinemas from Friday 13 July 2012.
Next week we will feature an exclusive interview with the legendary African-American Olympian Tommie Smith courtesy of Operation Black Vote (OBV).