Based on the title, you might think this was a story about a quickie set on a passenger plane, but alas the film takes place on land and has nothing to do with naughty airborne turbulence, whatsoever. I suppose some love is involved, but it's the 25,000 mile part that takes center stage here.
Technically, 25,422 miles, to be precise. That's the distance the human subject of this documentary traveled, on foot, to help raise money for a children's charity. Needless to say, Serge Roetheli was no armchair donor. THE 25,000 MILE LOVE STORY documents the 'Run for Kids World Tour' Roetheli undertook back in 2000, with help from his then wife, Nicole, who traveled with him, she on motorbike and toting camcorder.
Watching this reminded me of a book I read not too long ago: James Wallman's "Stuffocation." It seems to me Roetheli would fit Wallman's definition of an 'experientialist.' An experientialist is someone who'd rather experience life (go places and do things) than simply be a homebody and own a lot of material objects. We learn from the voice-over narrator (John Ridley) that this world tour of Roetheli's was self-financed. The couple sold their house and their belongings in order to pay for the tour; an extended adventure which took them to 35 countries and spanned 5 years.
A blistered foot or two wasn't the only thing Roetheli had to contend with along the way. Among the several setbacks and obstacles in his footpath, the Roethelis were forced to endure extreme weather conditions, the frequent nuisance of pesky gallinippers, repeated culture shock, even a hit-and-run driver, and no doubt the runs (pardon the pun).
We follow the Roethelis as they depart Sion, Switzerland on February 13, 2000, for a journey that would take them to six continents. (Obviously, our wayfarer did not walk on water. Enter the not-so-miraculous ferry boat.) Personally, this is what made the doc most watchable for me, as I don't find documentaries about athletes all that interesting but I do travelogues. Here, we get to see numerous exotic places that I wouldn't mind visiting myself (the Iguazu Falls, for example), and several others not so touristy (e.g., the Sahara Desert).
I was unfamiliar with Serge Roetheli and this extraordinary feat of his prior to watching this. Incidentally, I wonder if he has ever seen the movie, "Chariots of Fire"? Although the strains of Vangelis's same-titled song are not heard, they might very well have been included. For as with said inspiring film (a favorite of mine), here is a story about the strength of the human spirit and one man's remarkable stamina and perseverance while donning running shoes. Not just one pair, mind you. Make that 64 of them! That's how many pairs Roetheli wore out on this worldwide jog of his.
Aside: As a regular imbiber of a particular soda that's mentioned in this, I was astounded to learn of the beverage having been of much use to Roetheli; in one scene he's heard praising it above water in situations that call for endurance running. Perhaps what's been said by some with regard to this cola, of how it supposedly rots away the gut, is nothing more than an old wives' tale. One thing for sure, I'm not so certain I would have wanted to drink the water either, in a lot of the places Roetheli made his stopovers.
Technically, 25,422 miles, to be precise. That's the distance the human subject of this documentary traveled, on foot, to help raise money for a children's charity. Needless to say, Serge Roetheli was no armchair donor. THE 25,000 MILE LOVE STORY documents the 'Run for Kids World Tour' Roetheli undertook back in 2000, with help from his then wife, Nicole, who traveled with him, she on motorbike and toting camcorder.
Watching this reminded me of a book I read not too long ago: James Wallman's "Stuffocation." It seems to me Roetheli would fit Wallman's definition of an 'experientialist.' An experientialist is someone who'd rather experience life (go places and do things) than simply be a homebody and own a lot of material objects. We learn from the voice-over narrator (John Ridley) that this world tour of Roetheli's was self-financed. The couple sold their house and their belongings in order to pay for the tour; an extended adventure which took them to 35 countries and spanned 5 years.
A blistered foot or two wasn't the only thing Roetheli had to contend with along the way. Among the several setbacks and obstacles in his footpath, the Roethelis were forced to endure extreme weather conditions, the frequent nuisance of pesky gallinippers, repeated culture shock, even a hit-and-run driver, and no doubt the runs (pardon the pun).
We follow the Roethelis as they depart Sion, Switzerland on February 13, 2000, for a journey that would take them to six continents. (Obviously, our wayfarer did not walk on water. Enter the not-so-miraculous ferry boat.) Personally, this is what made the doc most watchable for me, as I don't find documentaries about athletes all that interesting but I do travelogues. Here, we get to see numerous exotic places that I wouldn't mind visiting myself (the Iguazu Falls, for example), and several others not so touristy (e.g., the Sahara Desert).
I was unfamiliar with Serge Roetheli and this extraordinary feat of his prior to watching this. Incidentally, I wonder if he has ever seen the movie, "Chariots of Fire"? Although the strains of Vangelis's same-titled song are not heard, they might very well have been included. For as with said inspiring film (a favorite of mine), here is a story about the strength of the human spirit and one man's remarkable stamina and perseverance while donning running shoes. Not just one pair, mind you. Make that 64 of them! That's how many pairs Roetheli wore out on this worldwide jog of his.
Aside: As a regular imbiber of a particular soda that's mentioned in this, I was astounded to learn of the beverage having been of much use to Roetheli; in one scene he's heard praising it above water in situations that call for endurance running. Perhaps what's been said by some with regard to this cola, of how it supposedly rots away the gut, is nothing more than an old wives' tale. One thing for sure, I'm not so certain I would have wanted to drink the water either, in a lot of the places Roetheli made his stopovers.