For any runner, stories about famous athletes are a great motivation to keep training and achieve great results. You can get inspiration and admire the capabilities of the human body not only while reading books.
In addition to fiction, there are tons of films about runners - both fiction and documentaries. They tell about amateurs, about athletes, about marathon runners, and finally, about ordinary people who, overpowering themselves, achieve excellent results.
This article is a selection of such films that will serve as excellent motivation and tell you how high a person can rise if he really wants it and strives for high results. Be prepared for the fact that after watching your life can seriously change.
Running movies
Athletics Films
"Faster than his own shadow" (release date - 1980).
This is a Soviet film drama telling the story of the runner Pyotr Korolev.
The athlete was eager to get to international competitions, and for this he demonstrated high results and records in training. In the end, he achieved his goal, but in the decisive race, when the rivals were far behind, Peter Korolev ... stopped to help the fallen opponent rise.
Will the athlete's peers, who are responsible for the result, in the future be able to trust this generous, but not in first place runner? Will he be given the opportunity to prove himself and defend the honor of the country at a great sporting event - the 1980 Moscow Olympics?
Petra Korolev is played by Anatoly Mateshko. In the role of his coach Feodosiy Nikitich - Alexander Fatyushin.
"Personal best" (release date - 1982)
This film, directed by Robert Town, tells the story of the athlete Chris, who did not show well in the selection for the Olympic Games in decathlon.
Her friend Tori comes to her aid, who convinces Chris to continue training, despite a failed performance in the qualifying competitions.
The coach doesn't want to coach Chris anymore, but Tori convinces him. As a result, active training begins. Also, the storyline of the love relationship between Tory and Chris runs parallel (this is a Hollywood film that also touches upon homosexual relationships).
Through the fault of his girlfriend, Chris is injured, the relationship is broken, but during the participation in the competition the girls, thanks to the support of each other, take prizes.
The role of Chris was played by Meryl Hemingway. Interestingly, the role of her friend Tory was played by the real athlete Patrice Donnelly, who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics as part of the USA hurdles team.
"The Right to Jump" (released in 1973)
Soviet picture directed by Valery Kremnev.
Interestingly, the prototype of the protagonist Viktor Motyl was the Soviet athlete and Honored Master of Sports Valery Brumel, who participated in writing the script.
According to the plot, the world high jumping athlete Viktor Motyl gets into a car accident, and the doctor declares that he will no longer be able to engage in professional sports.
However, Victor is trying to return to the big sport again, meeting on the way a professional surgeon and a talented young athlete, with whom he goes to the world championship.
"Hundred meters of love" (release date - 1932)
This film by Polish director Michal Washiński is a comedy. The film is black and white.
In the story, the tramp Dodek suddenly decides that he needs a sports career. He finds himself a patron-patron, a certain Monek. In addition, Dodek is in love with the girl from the fashion store Zosia and seeks to make an appropriate impression on her. As a result, the Dodek was the winner in the 100 meters ...
The leading roles in this film starred Adolf Dymsha, Konrad Tom and Zula Pogorzhelskaya.
"The home stretch" (release date - 2013)
This tape tells the story of a blind athlete Yannick and ex-athlete Leila, who was recently released from prison.
Both heroes need to start life anew, and they try to do this by helping each other.
The tape attracts with beautiful frames of races and a love story.
"Wilma" (release date - 1977)
Directed by Rad Greenspan, the film follows the life of the famous black runner Wilma Rudolph. Despite her origin (the girl was born into a large family and as a child had had polio, scarlet fever, whooping cough and other diseases), Wilma achieved a lot in sports and climbed to the highest podium at the Olympic Games three times.
This girl, who first played basketball and then entered the US athletics team, has received many flattering names such as "Tornado", "Black Gazelle" or "Black Pearl".
Films to watch before the marathon
"Athlete" (release date - 2009)
The film tells the story of the first African to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games, Abebe Bikila. And later, the athlete repeatedly became a leader.
The tape tells about the career of a runner, about training and his participation in the Olympics, as well as how his sports career was unexpectedly cut short as a result of a traffic accident. However, from any, even the seemingly most terrible situation, you can always find a way out that will be worthy.
"Saint Ralph" (release date - 2004)
Director Michael McGown's comedy tells the story of an orphaned teenager brought up in a Catholic orphanage. One of the teachers saw in the tomboy the makings of an outstanding athlete. He definitely needed to create a miracle and win the Boston Marathon.
This film tells about faith in yourself, your strength, as well as the desire to succeed and the will to win.
"The Runner" (released in 1979)
This film, in which the main role was played by Michael Douglas, still little known at that time, tells about the life of a marathon athlete. Despite the discord in the family, thanks to the will to win, the athlete constantly trains, dreaming of winning the marathon.
"Marathon" (release date - 2012)
This tape describes the daily routine of marathon runners. A company of losers, trying to solve their problems, is going to take part in the famous Rotterdam Marathon in order to receive sponsorship money and solve their financial problems. Will they be able to do it?
Top 5 best running feature films
Forrest Gump (released in 1994)
Oscar-winning film by cult director Robert Zemeckis.
This is the story of an ordinary person who faced many difficulties in his life and overcame them. He participated in hostilities, became a war hero, played football for the national team, and also turned out to be a successful entrepreneur. And all this time he remained a kind and ingenuous person.
During a difficult period of his life, Forest became interested in running and ran from one end of the country to the other, spending several years on it. Jogging became a kind of medicine for him, as well as an opportunity to gain new friends and followers.
Interestingly, the leading actor, Tom Hanks, accepted the director's offer on one condition: the storyline must intersect with events from real life.
The result was a stunning film that won 6 Oscars and won the gratitude of enthusiastic audiences.
"Run Lola Run" (released in 1998)
Tom Tykwer's cult film about a girl living in Berlin, Lola, with a fiery hair color. Lola's boyfriend, Manny, got into a cool mess, and the girl has only twenty minutes to find a way out and help her beloved. To be in time, Lola needs to run - stylishly and purposefully and every time like the last ...
By the way, the hair color of the main character (the actress did not wash her hair for 7 weeks during the filming so as not to wash off the red paint) blew the minds of many fashionistas of that time.
"The loneliness of a long distance runner" (release date - 1962)
This old tape tells the story of the young man Colin Smith. For robbery, he ends up in a reformatory school and tries to return to normal life through sports. A film about the rebelliousness of youth and about who you can become and what you can achieve. Most of the film is about Colin's training.
The main role in the film is played by Tom Courtney - this is his first role in cinema.
"Chariots of Fire" (release date - 1981)
This movie is a must-see for every jogging person. The tape tells the story of two athletes who competed at the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. The first, from a family of Scottish missionaries, has religious motives. The second, the son of Jewish immigrants, is trying to escape from the anti-Semites.
This movie tells about a sport devoid of sponsors and money, a sport in which money, doping or politics do not interfere, and athletes are noble people who go to their goal. This feed will force you to take a fresh look at what drives different people towards high results.
"Run, fat man, run!" (release date - 2008).
This inspiring British comedy follows a guy who decided to run a marathon to get his love back. At the same time, he has only three weeks to prepare for the competition. This film is worth watching, if only for the sake of a strong conviction: even if everyone around you laughs at you, do not give up, just join in this laugh. And - take part in the marathon.
Cast - Simon Pegg and Dylan Moran.
Running documentaries
"Prefontein" (release date - 1997)
This tape is half documentary. It tells the story of the life of the legendary athlete Steve Prefontein - record holder and undoubted leader on the treadmill.
Prefortane set seven records in his life, experienced both triumphs and defeats, and eventually died at the age of 24.
The main role in the film was played by the no less legendary Jared Leto.
Endurance (release date 1999).
The cult Terence Malik (The Thin Red Line) was the producer of this tape.
This film is a documentary drama that tells the story of how the legendary athlete - two-time Olympic champion, marathon runner, Ethiopian citizen Haile Gebreselassie - ascended the podium.
The film shows the development of the actor - as he was a child, he ran with water-filled jugs, textbooks, and constantly - barefoot.
Isn't it a great example for those who want to change their lives? After all, even being born in a rural area in a poor village, you can become a champion.
It is interesting that in the tape the athlete plays himself.
Watching these stunning and iconic films can be 101 kicks for motivation to workout, the desire to "be sure to start running on Monday", and further conquest of athletic peaks. The films will appeal to both professional athletes and ordinary running amateurs.
