During the Opening Ceremony, in the presence of French President François Mitterrand, shots of real contemporary events are intercut with dreamlike moments of a rare beauty and grace. Hosted in the small resort of Albertville, in the Savoie region of France, the Winter Games are recorded here on 16mm film. This does not hamper the energy and invention of the directors, however. Their vision embraces both thoughtful interviews with Jean-Claude Killy and Michel Barnier, the co-presidents of the Albertville Organising Committee, as well as the physical force required by Alberto Tomba to win a giant slalom title, or the aesthetic appeal of the figure skating finals.