Product Details

• Actors: Haile Gebrsellasie, Shawananness Gebrselassie, Yonas Zergaw, Tedesse Haile, Bekele Gebrselassie
• Directors: Bud Greenspan, Leslie Woodhead
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JNGV
• For more information about "Endurance" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This film about Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrsellasie, who won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and is considered one of the greatest runners of all time, is a dramatization that often appears to be a documentary. Beautifully photographed, the footage shot in Haile's native land is often spectacular enough to make you think you're watching a National Geographic special. Haile's young life, such as a scene when his family is listening to a news report about warfare in Ethiopia and a report comes on about the 1980 Olympics, is portrayed with apparent accuracy, but not without a great deal of drama. There are many scenes of Haile running, past wildlife in the countryside or through crowded city slums, and while this gives what must be an accurate idea of him developing his athletic regimen, this is also not terribly dramatic on camera. Eventually, Haile is shown racing in Atlanta, valiantly overtaking all competition; his family back in Ethiopia is shown gathered around a television set, jubilantly watching his triumph. And while there's no denying that this is a touching and inspiring human story, the slow pace of the presentation tends to work against the inherent drama. --Robert J. McNamara

From The New Yorker

Co-produced by Terrence Malick and directed by the British documentarian Leslie Woodhead, this is a serious and surging account of the life and times of the Ethiopian track star Haile Gebrselassie. The times in question are world records; Gebrselassie is, by common consent, the finest distance runner of all time. Americans had their fill of him in 1996, when he took the gold in the ten thousand metres at the Atlanta Olympics, an event that is split into fragments and dotted throughout Woodhead's film. The rest tells of the athlete's childhood in rural Ethiopia, and his determined rise, against the wishes of his father, to the peak of his profession (it feels more like a calling). These scenes are a curious but winning weave of factual history and fictional technique; the young Haile, for instance, is played by the adult Haile's real nephew, and his late mother by his sister. There are moments here that are perhaps too ravishing for their own good-the beauty of the domestic scenes inside the family hut is like an antidote to the brute facts of poverty-and yet, finally, it is impossible not to be stirred by the fluid, frictionless travelling shots of Gebrselassie in motion. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enduring Story, May 26, 2000

By 

Mitch Schieffer (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Endurance [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Endurance is not a movie about distance running. While many people, especially runners, would disagree with this statement, a critical look reveals a simple, multi-layered film that deals with the universal story of a hero overcoming hardships and obstacles to achieve a dream.

What makes Endurance most satisfying, however, is that this is no myth. Haile's life is shown from childhood to adulthood through the use of simple, stark images that vividly portray the elements that melded together a man of uncommon focus, faith, and yes, endurance. We understand the how's and why's of Haile's development without being didactically bludgeoned by the director.

The use of Haile and his family as actors lends not only a certain authenticity to the semi-documentary look but also adds an endearing naiveté to the performances. We see people who have actually lived the roles they are playing. And Bud Greenspan's scenes of the 1996 10,000m Olympic final are surely the best filmed running sequences seen in a movie. The directors of Prefontaine and Without Limits, take note.

The musical score is also a wonderful complement to the film. Scenes of unabashed joy, crushing sorrow, and quiet solitude are enhanced, not overshadowed, by a mixture of African and Western music.

While runners saw the movie in droves when it was released, most people did not. Too bad. This is a beautiful film telling a wonderful and true story.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring true story, September 24, 2000

By 

hillrunr - See all my reviews

This review is from: Endurance [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the story of Haile Gebreselassie, considered by many in distance running circles to be one of the best distance runners of all time. It does a great job of showing what life was really like for Geb as a child in Ethiopia and where the work ethic that took him to the top came from. Many people wonder why the Africans are so far ahead of the rest of the world in distance running. I think this shows that it is about the culture. Geb looked at Miritus Yifter, another Olympic gold medalist from Ethiopia, as a hero when he was a kid. He then took the work ethic instilled in him as a kid and used that to chase his dream of becoming Ethiopia's next hero.

Many runners were eagerly anticipating this release. However, I think it has a great story for everyone, whether you are the next Geb or you have never run a step. It is a true story of a man overcoming difficult circumstances to become the best in the world.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Runners Will Love This!, March 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Endurance [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is about the life of one of the best distance runners of all time! It is great because Haile Gebreselassie plays himself. Anyone who is serious about running will really enjoy this inspiring story. It is great for all ages. Since Haile plays himself, the acting is slow in some places. However, the clips of the 1996 Olympics 10,000m makes the entire movie worth it!