Customer Reviews

Endurance

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Endurance is a moving and wonderful story. It focuses on the life of Haile Gebrselassie, the great Ethiopian distance runner, recently named the most prolific distance runner of all time by Runners World magazine.

Gebrselassie followed in the great running tradition of countryment Abebe Bikila and Moses Yiftur, joining them in becoming folk heroes within their native land. The strength of this film is that most of it focuses on Haile's youth, providing insight to those of us who are less familiar with the challenges of impoverished athletes following their dreams.

The film making and cinematography are top-shelf, blending African sounds with the real-life visuals of the day-to-day struggles of making a family farm work. It shows the efforts required by all family members, tilling the dry fields, walking for hours to gather water, working until the sun drops from the sky. It was truly difficult to imagine the energy and commitment the young Haile needed to continue running after the exhaustion of day-to-day existence.

The film culminates with the 10,000 gold medal performance that "Geb" turned in at the Atlanta Olympics. The speed with which he accelerated on the last lap is well-known to those who love track. After viewing his life prior to this Olympic event, the victory run is a thrilling experience, whether you are a dedicated track lover or not.

From the moment the film opened until the final credit scrolled by, I found myself once again in Ethiopia. The songs, the voices, the sights and even the smells came rushing back to drown me in memories of the most wonderful years of my life. I recommend it highly to anyone who has ever been to Ethiopia and to everyone else who hasn't. This film is so well done that I found myself as part of the story. There are so many other reasons to watch this film that it is difficult for me to choose one reason above another. It is a story of self determination, a story of hardship of faith of family and of love and of loss, but to me it is mostly a story of what can be accomplished with hard work and sacrifice. I think the title says it well.

This is a movie I would recommend for people who like to think about life, and how dreams and determination can help improve a person's situation... Not recommended at all for people who want adrenaline rushes, unexpected twists, violence, or sex.

I am a runner myself, and can see why some other runners who reviewed this film were disappointed in not seeing a lot more running by one of the greatest runners of all time.

However, the movie makes up for its shortcomings with great filming of ethiopian scenery, capturing the essence of how many ethiopians face life there, and all accompanied by beautiful, soothing, inspiring music.

What is a crime, is that this is not available on DVD...!!! The DVD version could actually include the whole 10,000 meter race at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which was not televised in the USA (no US runners, I suppose?), but is widely regarded by the rest of the world as one of the most exciting races ever seen at any Olympics event...!

In any shape or form, I would love to own this on DVD. Any additional interviews, or footage of races, of course, would be extremely welcome...!

PLEASE, PLEASE, release this on DVD...!

I just returned from the Arsi Negele/Shashamene region of Ethiopia where my family spent 5 days in the small village of Kersa Elala doing humanitarian work. I agree with the one reviewer who commented that this is not just a "runner" movie (even though the running scenes are great). Leslie Woodhead totally captured the sights, sounds, (even the smell of the smoke) and feelings of what it is like to be a child in rural areas of Ethiopia. It is the story of survival and triumph. I heard children in Kersa singing the same songs I heard in the movie! And the scenes of the Olympics were amazing. After spending time in an Ethiopian village and witnessing first hand what the children have to endure, Haile's gold medal performance is even more amazing to me! Sit down with your family and watch this movie.

I showed this movie to my high school track team and they were very impressed. They were awestruck by the kind of life Haile grew up in and the kind of training he went through. They were inspired and continued to talk about the movie days later. The fact that it's only 83 minutes made it a good length for high schoolers.

I really enjoyed this movie. Its absolutly amazing watching Haile run in the 1996 Olympic Games. I wish it would have showed more races of his but all in all it was an awsome movie and I would highly recommend it for anyone to watch.

This movie is inspiring for anyone who takes running seriously. It is a great story of one of the world's best runners. It is great for all ages. Hailie plays himself. The movie is a little slow in some parts, but the race clips make it all worth it.