The Long Run (2001)

A failed track coach finally finds someone who he believes has what it takes to win.

Director:

Jean Stewart

Writer:

Johann Potgieter

Stars:

Armin Mueller-Stahl, Nthati Moshesh, Paterson Joseph

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Bertold 'Barry' Bohmer
Nthati Moshesh	...	Christine Moyo
Paterson Joseph	...	Gasa
Seputla Sebogodi	...	Terror
Desmond Dube	...	Miso
Anna-Mart van der Merwe	...	Anna
Christopher Kubheka	...	Johannes
Gift Leotlela	...	Popo
Jeremia Ramasita	...	Kupa
Nakedi Ribane	...	Blanche
Chris van Niekerk	...	Pool
Wilson Dunster	...	Suiker
Clementine Mosimane	...	Marie
Terence Reis	...	Dr. Paul
Elize Cawood	...	Mrs. Suiker

Storyline

The Comrades Marathon is a 90-k race in South Africa. An aging running coach, Barry, wants to field a winner; he's working with four men from a factory, but when he's fired to make way for a smooth, corporate type, he's at loose ends. Then he sees Christine, a Namibian immigrant who runs to forget her troubles. He offers to coach her and soon she's living at his house, following his diet and training regimen. But his single-mindedness gets to her: she wants a job and a place of her own. Plus, the man who replaced Barry likes her and wants her away from Barry. Can runner and coach (woman and man, African and European) sort out their complex relationship before the race?

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Plot Keywords:

coach | training | marathon | running | runner | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Focus [us]

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Longa Corrida

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baer Production Company, Distant Horizons

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"THE BRAAI BAR-B-QUE"
Written by Gareth Cousins

User Reviews

A fine film about contemporary South Africa's stellar marathon race of 90 k

The previous commentator who rated this film "1" based on seeing the last 10 minutes is laughable and irresponsible. This is a sensitive and will-developed film about a lonely old failed-runner turned coach who lives for running and finds a promising young woman refugee whom he wants to train for this grueling race. She is an illegal refugee from Namibia who runs to forget her troubles -- not into racing -- and he rescues her from deportation and takes over her life in order to train her. Eventually she rebels and leaves because she is young and wants a life of her own, but returns to running and works with him and his bunch of male runners as her group support. The cinematography is excellent and the music -- using local native bands and songs of prominence -- first rate. If the film were such a travesty on racing, why would the sponsoring organization of this grueling race cooperate with and allow the movie to be shot as an exemplar of the race. How many American runners have run 90k? With a good part of the race toward the end a steep uphill? This is a fine movie, a heart-warming story, unlike the vast majority of sock-em, kill-em, torture-em or gen-x mixed-up kids seeking their identity.