Magic slow running drama

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2001)

This true tale of runners and running back in the days when sportsmen could stand in the middle of the track smoking fags between races will always hold a special place in my heart - when I was growing up and we only had two or three video tapes, to watch when my dad rented or borrowed a vcr for the weekend, this was one of them (along with Star Wars, Raiders, and Superman II I think), and it got a lot of play. A lovingly made look at the lives of two great British sportsmen building up to the Olympics and a stab at the greatest glory a track athlete can achieve, this is awash with period flavour, rich in wonderful acting (sadly neither of the two leads repeated their on-screen glory moment, Ian Charleson's early death being particularly tragic), and featuring that unforgettable Vangelis score, this will always be a great film to me and continues to inspire. Despite some of the highlights provoking a "Ooooh, here comes the bit where he falls over and gets up again..." in anticipation, it still has such a richness that some scenes and lines can still evoke new feelings, inspire new thoughts and connections. Fantastic.