b'Chariots of Fire, directed by Hughmore difficult. It would keep their feet Hudson, is a story based on the 1924cool too, and also nice and clean. Paris Olympics, exactly 100 yearsThis leads me to thinking how the ago, and we really see how thingsOlympics will be held this year in Paris have changed. The opening with thecompared to back in 1924. There are well-known music follows a scenemany differences to how the Olympics when the characters appear as oldare held today. People wore different Verdicts on men in a church. We now zoom backshoes for running for starters in olden to 1924: the old men are now youngdaysthe trainers being worn by men, running in the sea, which mayEric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, CHARIOTS OF FIRE be a challenge because it must bethe British heroes in the film, are very spikey and sharp and dig into the ground, but now running shoes are very different. They also had to build little piles of soil near the starting line before the races start, which they then push against when the gun fires, but someone would have to clean up the mess afterwards. Watch the film and see for yourself if you dont believe me!Hadeed Syed, Year 8the Holy Sabbath. This shows that he would sacrifice great fame for his beliefs and values; but luckily enough, one of his teammates, Lord Lindsay, who is very posh, is willing to trade races with Liddell, as Lindsay already has a silver medal. Liddell then goes on (spoiler alert!) to win the 400m sprint against the American competition, whose coach disregarded him before the race.This film shows the running scenes not as races, but as individual endeavours and acts of resilience. It shows what the races I do not usually watch running films,Chariots of Fire creates deep emotionsmean to both runners, which makes this but Chariots of Fire, a classic, retainedamong its audience, with the looks onfilm more than just about those two gifted my attention throughout, and movedhuman faces, and the director meticulouslysprinters, but also about how being diligent me emotionally. It won many Oscars forfocuses on the natural expressions ofin the eyes of discrimination and staying directing and music, and its clear to seestress, joy, victory, defeat and pain. Thefirm to your beliefs can overcome anything why. For films to be great, they must haveuse of slow-motion further emphasises thein the way.a deeper meaning than what is presentedgravity of the scenes, not to mention theMy favourite scenes in the film are when on the surface, saying important things, andmusic, which contrasts with the era the filmLiddell is not given a chance to win the for this film, it is all about the British classis set in, as it is electronic music. But it suits400m by the American coach at the start, system, and also perseverance. the film and gives it a somewhat epic feelingyet is given a letter by Jackson Scholz, the This film is set between the years 1919and expresses the overcoming of obstacles,New York Thunderbolt, giving him support. and 1924. Harold Abrahams, a Jew, is ate.g. when winning the 400m or the 100mThen, Liddell (final spoiler alert!) wins the Cambridge University, where he experiencessprints respectively. It really does depict therace, beating favourites and shocking that anti-Semitism. At university he also showsintensity of the movie which is great. American coach. My other favourite scene his gift of speed as a runner, and the mostThis film also shows the two athletesis the beginning and the ending, where amazing fact was that he was undefeatedproving their worth, their beliefs andall the runners are running through water in races. That is until he meets his matchtheir values in some form or another,together, showing accomplishment. The in Eric Liddell in 1923. Liddell was knownwith Abrahams overcoming adversity tomusic adds to the emotion as the Flying Scotsman and proved thiscompete in the Olympics against great,of success and joy.by beating Abrahams in a British Open.experienced athletes of the day. Yet thisIn my opinion, Chariots Abrahams takes defeat very badly. In fact hedid not scare or deter him in any way, andof Fire is a film which is not happy at all. He does however makehe earned a silver medal in the 200m race,everyone should watch his mark in the eyes of a professional trainerlosing to Charlie Paddock, an American.in order to feel a mix of called Sam Mussabini, who offers to takeHis last chance for glory is in the 100memotions. The film depicts Abrahams on and improve his technique.sprint. And (spoiler alert!) he wins, earningan era when people The part that strikes me about this is thegold, despite the intense competition.believed you could win a fact that Abrahams was asking MussabiniFor Liddell on the other hand, he did earnrace if only you believed to train him, but now Mussabini is asking ifhis spot in the 100m race representingyou could do it.he could train Abrahams. What a turn of theGreat Britain, but learns that a heat will tables! be on a Sunday, so he refuses as it isSami Khan, Year 814'