It seems impossible to me that anyone can be a runner but not have seen the movie Chariots of Fire. It's a true classic not only of the sports film genre, but also of film as a whole. If you don't believe me, believe the experts at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Chariots was nominated for seven Oscars in 1982 and won four of them, including the coveted "Best Picture" award.
If you're still not convinced that you should see this movie, I'll take you through the pros and cons and see if I can't change your mind by the end of this review. The movie follows the true story of two runners from Great Britain -- Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams -- who seek to run in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, despite obstacles they face because of their respective religions.
Liddell, a Scottish rugby player and devout Christian, believes that God has given him the gift of speed and he must use that gift for God's glory. At the same time, he also feels called to do missionary work in China and his sister insists that running will only distract him from his higher calling. Abrahams is a Cambridge student and the son of a Lithuanian Jew who runs into anti-Semitism wherever he goes. He seeks to win in order to overcome the prejudice he has faced. The story also follows three fellow Cambridge runners who join the two main characters at the Olympic games.
The second scene introduces the epic synthesizer riffs of Vangelis, the film's Oscar-winning composer. The music makes your heart swell as you see Great Britain's Olympic team running together on the beach, focusing on the main characters' faces as they pass their fellow runners. The music perfectly complements the images of the film, swelling with the characters' triumphs and falling into a sort of psychedelic distortion with their failures. Not to say that the images are at all lacking. The design of the costumes and sets is fascinating and pulls you into the period.
The cinematography and editing make the film a visual gem and enhance its storytelling. We are able to see into the characters' heads and view their obsessions on screen because the editors knew what to show and when, and at what speed. It also makes incredibly short races like the 100 and 400-meter seem longer, adding intensity to a run that is usually over before you know it. Overall, the editing and cinematography let the viewer feel the same emotions that the runners feel from the starting line to well past the finish.
The themes of religion and passion give weight to Liddell and Abrahams' races. The two characters show two different sides of intensity. Liddell is unshakable in his beliefs and commitment to upholding his Christian values, but he always remains kind and compassionate when dealing with people. Abrahams, on the other hand, can be standoffish and prideful, though the viewer comes to feel sympathetic for him when he shows his doubts in moments of candidness. Both have a lot to prove to the world and to themselves, and the Olympics provide the perfect stage for them to do so.
I'll admit that the film's age shows at times. What's more 80s than a synthesizer paired with slow motion? But it's not such an overwhelming distraction that it took away from my overall enjoyment. Usually though, the themes of the film make it transcend time and feel just as relevant today as it was in 1981. Conflicts like God vs. country, man vs. self and man vs. prejudice are still just as captivating today as they have ever been.
In the spirit of the recent Olympics, I recommend this movie to those who haven't seen it, and even encourage those who already have to give it another go. You'll find yourself rooting for Liddell and Abrahams just as much as you were rooting for the athletes in London just weeks ago.
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