SALUTE - Review from Toronto Sports Film Festival

Salute

Dir. Matt Norman (2008, Australia, 94 mins.)

The best documentary subjects do not need to be exaggerated; by extension, the best documentary filmmakers choose a compelling subject and tell the story honestly. Lesser documentaries make a great spectacle of one-sided stories, blustering filmmakers, and out of context quotes. Good documentaries, like Salute, eschew all that nonsense. Instead, filmmaker Matt Norman attempts to tell a naturally compelling story in the most complete, honest, and methodical way possible. The result is a film gracefully executed, a portrait lovingly rendered, and a credit to Australian filmmaking.

I suspect that most educated people are familiar with the image of the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute – after all, it is one of the most iconic images of the 1960s and has appeared in textbooks, posters, and even The Simpsons. I also suspect that more than a few people wondered, as I did upon first encountering the image, about the white man standing on the podium who seemed to have stumbled into history. His name is Peter Norman, and his story as chronicled by his nephew in this film (along with the stories of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the American athletes) turns out to be both fascinating and deeply moving. By wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights button in solidarity with his fellow athletes, Peter Norman incurred the wrath of outraged sports officials; four years later, even though he was ranked as the fifth fastest man worldwide for the two hundred meter event, he was barred from attending the Munich Olympics.

The thing I most appreciate about this documentary is that it takes the time – a significant amount of time – to carefully build historical context. It is too easy and misleading to think of historical events in terms of their effects; it is much more worthwhile and essential to understand historical events in terms of their causes. The majority of the film discusses events leading up to the salute – the proposed boycott by black American athletes of the Olympics, the violent riots in Mexico City prior to the games, and the incredible build-up to the two hundred meter race itself. Other critics have superficially criticised the film for taking too much time to build this context. Frankly, I prefer this methodical approach, as opposed to the usual convention of slapping together a stock footage montage of the 1960s – by the way, this image’s appearance in The Simpsons was in a parody of such stock montages.

This is a documentary with resonance. It will spark conversation. It will add depth to an iconic moment in history. From a documentary, we can’t ask much more.

- Dave

To read the review go to:

http://www.soundonsight.org/csff-salute/

Peter Norman Statue

Matt Norman, director and producer of the new Documentary SALUTE about his uncle Peter Norman and also writer/director and producer of the upcoming big budget "1968" is now looking for support to erect a Statue to honour his uncle Peter Norman.

Peter Norman who won the silver medal in the 200m at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and was part of one of the most powerful images of the 20th Century when Tommie Smith and John Carlos made what's now known as the Black Power Protest "needs to be honoured" Matt said.

Even though Peter Norman is regarded as Australia's best sprinter in our history and who still holds the Australian and Commonwealth 200m record nearly 40 years later, there is nothing celebrating his achievements in sport and also his courage for standing up for Civil and Human rights with his friends Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

When the American's made a 20 foot high statue to celebrate two of their own, they left out one man who not only earnt that same respect but a man who for the past 40 years has sacrificed his own right to honour his friends. At San Jose State University, there is a statue celebrating what Tommie Smith and John Carlos did during the 68 Olympics. The spot where Peter should be standing is left empty for people to take that position to get photo’s taken with Tommie and John. The white guy who stood up for Black America again has been left out of history..

Matt Norman has started the "Peter Norman Foundation" which will be an ongoing opportunity to raise money for civil and human rights charities as well as sporting charities. Our first project for the foundation will be to have a statue made of the “three men” on the winners podium, with Peter Norman taking pride of place with his friends and fellow athletes. This statue will be the first in History to celebrate all three men and the stance they all took.

The MCG (home to the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne) is the desired location for this monument. We are now raising money and public interest for this statue and hope to have it underway by October 16th this year being the 40 year anniversary of the famous Salute.

In 2006 Peter Norman died at aged 64. Matt Norman's film SALUTE is currently playing in Cinema's around the World and the official biography "A Race to remember" which Matt is co-author is also now available.

If you would like to help please contact Matt Norman @ mattnorman@theactorscafe.com

More info on the book and film can be found at www.salutethemovie.com