American Odyssey
- 1980
- 1h 27m
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Invigorating docu on the benefits of running
My review was written in November 1980 after a screening in Times Square:
Sports documentarist Ambrose Salmini organized and shot this entertaining cross country holiday, using the 1979 New York City Marathon as his starting point. Centering on three runners and exercise enthusiasts, he extols the value of outdoor sports, while treating the viewer to the beauties of many unspoiled U. S. locations. Though the commercial market of late has given support to mainly controversial documentaries (e.g., "Harlan County, U. S. A."), this pleasant pic could find an audience as did Bruce Brown's carefree films of a decade or so ago, "The Endless Summer" and "On Any Sunday".
Melody Mayer, a teacher from Sandusky, Ohio, Todd Gay and Leon Henderson, a farmer from Eugene, Oregon are three young believers in the virtue of vigorous physical exercise. After running in the 1979 N. Y. C. Marathon, they embark with Salmini's camera crew on a journey by van across America, stopping off at scenic sites for running, cycling and local sports activities. Salmini also intercuts footage of earlier races and his protagonists at home before the trek.
Highlights of the trip include kayaking on the Little Tennessee River, visiting hospitable and self-reliant family of beekeepers in Blairsville, Georgia, a 50-mile bike tour near Tulsa, Oklahoma, hot air ballooning in Colorado, rock-climbing out west, racing on foot in San Francisco''s "Bay to Breakers" competition, a visit to the Navajo cliffs, and running through the Grand Canyon.
A fourth participant, Linda Macias, joins the trio in Wyoming. Though Mayer stresses the importance of running and cycling as solitary pursuits by which she gains independence, she and Todd fall in love during the tour. Trip winds up at the U. Of California at Davis, where trio, especially Mayer, prove exceptional in testing at the Human Performance Lab. Salmini proselytizes on the healthful effects of vigorous sport and exercise, e.g., cutting down on cardiovascular disease, but his film's message is clearly summed up in a bit of narration: "We were healthy, we shared friendship, we were free".
Using pleasant library and pop music for a soundtrack, film boasts sharp 16mm photography (with emphasis on wide-angle lens shots), which may sustain a blowup to 35mm without much loss of definition.
Melody Mayer, a teacher from Sandusky, Ohio, Todd Gay and Leon Henderson, a farmer from Eugene, Oregon are three young believers in the virtue of vigorous physical exercise. After running in the 1979 N. Y. C. Marathon, they embark with Salmini's camera crew on a journey by van across America, stopping off at scenic sites for running, cycling and local sports activities. Salmini also intercuts footage of earlier races and his protagonists at home before the trek.
Highlights of the trip include kayaking on the Little Tennessee River, visiting hospitable and self-reliant family of beekeepers in Blairsville, Georgia, a 50-mile bike tour near Tulsa, Oklahoma, hot air ballooning in Colorado, rock-climbing out west, racing on foot in San Francisco''s "Bay to Breakers" competition, a visit to the Navajo cliffs, and running through the Grand Canyon.
A fourth participant, Linda Macias, joins the trio in Wyoming. Though Mayer stresses the importance of running and cycling as solitary pursuits by which she gains independence, she and Todd fall in love during the tour. Trip winds up at the U. Of California at Davis, where trio, especially Mayer, prove exceptional in testing at the Human Performance Lab. Salmini proselytizes on the healthful effects of vigorous sport and exercise, e.g., cutting down on cardiovascular disease, but his film's message is clearly summed up in a bit of narration: "We were healthy, we shared friendship, we were free".
Using pleasant library and pop music for a soundtrack, film boasts sharp 16mm photography (with emphasis on wide-angle lens shots), which may sustain a blowup to 35mm without much loss of definition.
Details
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
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