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Endurance
Price: $75.00 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780788814563
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
ISBN: 630573237X
Label: Walt Disney Video
Languages: English (Original Language), Analog
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: November 07, 2000
Running Time: 83 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: May 14, 1999
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Editorial Review:
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
Here's the triumphant, true-life story of an Olympic hero ... and just how far he came in order to become the fastest Olympic long-distance runner the world has ever seen! Raised under oppressive conditions in one of the world's poorest countries, the Ethiopian boy named Haile Gebrselassie was born to run! When he wasn't laboring in his father's fields, young Haile would be running: the six miles to school and back, while doing chores, or simply for pleasure at the end of a long, hard day! In an inspirational and artfully crafted motion picture from heralded filmmaker Leslie Woodhead, the climactic moment comes as the unstoppable Haile chases down his lifelong dream in a stirring Gold Medal performance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games!
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Please hurry up and release the DVD!
Please release this great movie on DVD. I look foward to replacing my VHS tape. Thanks.
Rating: - Beautiful and inspiring...!
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 ... Read More
Rating:  - three minutes
There is not much here. You learn a little bit about how Gebrselassie became a runner, and a little bit about life in Ethiopia. But the pace of the movie is so very, very slow, you get only the most vague, broad ideas. It is disappointing to be given only a glimpse, not something more substantial -- the vast majority of the 83 minute running time is simply wasted. If you are interested in Gebrselassie's races, you will also be disappointed. There are snippets from one of his Olympic 10,000 meters ... Read More
Rating: - one of the greatest, most original films ever made
This film is an original, not a documentary, not a drama, but a completely one off mix of the two, the moving, thrilling tale of Haile Gebresalassie, Ethiopia's greatest runner. It tells tells the story of his life, his childhood in Ethiopia and his stunning career as an athelete. Gorgeous film of Ethiopia, heart-stopping footage of the Olympics. Not to be missed.
Rating:  - good "wide world" movie for kids; so-so for runners...
Haile Gebrselassie is indeed a worthy subject for a docudrama: not only one of the world's all-time greatest distance runners but an amazingly likeable, soulful man to boot. On balance I'm glad I saw this movie--but not delighted to have purchased it, if that apparent paradox makes any sense.
If you, like me, are a runner in search of inspiration, then the opening sequence is worth the price of admission: one uncut take of about three or four minutes in which the camera, apparently in a ... Read More
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