Running the Sahara (2007)

Three men attempt to become the first humans to run coast to coast across the Sahara Desert.

Director:

James Moll

Stars:

Matt Damon, Charlie Engle, Kevin Lin

Cast

Credited cast:
Matt Damon	...	Narrator
Charlie Engle	...	Self
Kevin Lin	...	Self
Ray Zahab	...	Self

Storyline

In 2006, an international expedition team of three men - Charlie Engle (USA), Ray Zahab (Canada) and Kevin Lin (Taiwan) undertook a quest that no human being has ever fulfilled. They ran across the Sahara Desert. Each runner brought his own unique story and motivations, but all unite around a love for Africa and a profound desire to prove that the impossible is possible. The film is an up-close, character-driven documentary that delves deep into the culture of the Sahara through the eyes of three individuals undergoing a life-altering experience. Along with the runners, we cross six countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. Through the eyes of our runners, we come to understand the realities of Africa - the beauty and the tragedy inherent in everyday life. This reality is underscored by the recurring theme of water - a daily necessity for our runners and a daily struggle for many of the people they encounter. The cast encountered many locals who spend two and half ...

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Plot Keywords:

sahara | runner | desert | running | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Beyond the Expedition: Running the Sahara (2008)

User Reviews

interesting and engaging documentary

i thought this was a very interesting,engaging documentary.it shows what you can achieve will a lot of will determination,and drive.the narration(by Matt Damon)is very good,but minimal,which is a good thing.the film is about the three runners after all,so the focus should be mostly on them.though a lot of the film is just desert,(which is spectacular,and you get an idea of the vastness,)there are times when the runners do encounter some beautiful scenery along the way.they also meet some interesting people,as well.it would have been nice to have a followup with the runners after some times had passed to get there reflection on the experience then,and see how what their thoughts were at that point and what else they had planned,if anything(there is a brief snippet about that during the end credits,but nothing in depth.still,i enjoyed it.for me,Running the Sahara is an 8/10

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Running the Sahara

Filming Locations:

Egypt

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allentown Productions, LIFE(n), LivePlanet

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color