Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Steven Hilliard Stern

Writers (WGA):

Greg Louganis (book) and
Eric Marcus (book) ...

Release Date:

19 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

Breaking the Surface is about the tough times Greg Louganis had on his way to becoming one of the world's top Olympic divers...

Plot Keywords:

Olympics | Swimming Pool | Adopted Son | Olympic Hopeful | AIDS

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mario López	...	Greg Louganis
Michael Murphy	...	Pete Louganis
Rosemary Dunsmore	...	Frances Louganis
Jeffrey Meek	...	Tom Barrett
Megan Leitch	...	Megan
Jonathan Scarfe	...	Keith
Fulvio Cecere	...	John Anders
Patrick David	...	Young Greg Louganis
Rafael Rojas III	...	Greg (age 9)
Bruce Weitz	...	Ron O'Brien
Andrew Francis	...	Bully Boy #1
Nathan Evans	...	Bully Boy #2
Noah Dennis	...	Bully Boy #3
Kristina Krapic	...	Despina (age 11)
Gabrielle Miller	...	Despina

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Green/Epstein Productions

Trivia:

Actual footage of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea are used in the film. Actual footage of Greg Louganis diving at the Olympiads and audience reaction is also used in the film.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pleasure of Your Company (2006)

The best story about an HIV positive Olympic medal winner, bar none.

I was forced to watch this movie one night when my friend Finner said he wanted to watch it for a "research project" he was working on. During certain scenes of Mario Lopez in his swim attire, Finner was working something alright....but I digress. I was very glad I sat through this movie, as I felt my heart sing out with joy as the vibrant storytelling seemed to leap out at me.

From this movie, I learned that diving is more than just jumping into a pool at a really good angle. It's about internal struggle. It's about heartache. Most of all, however, it's about redemption. Star making performance from Mr. Lopez, who as you already know, later shot to stratospheric superstardom in the brilliant "America's Most Talented Kid". This is a truly inspiring film, and indeed, one of the ages. Not to be missed.