Atletu/ The Athlete (Davey Frankel/ Rasselas Lakew: 2009): Ethiopia/USA/Germany

Reviewed by Lava Farmer.  Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

The Athlete is the touching story of Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila(Rasselas Lakew).  Made famous for winning Olympic gold while running barefoot through the streets of Rome in 1960.  He was the first African athlete in history to take Olympic gold, and then went on to win again at the next Olympics in Japan.  However, after a loss in Mexico City Bikila must train himself physically and mentally if he is to make it to his final race in Munich for the 1972 Olympics.

Filmmakers Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew take us on a heartwarming and breathtaking journey through the life of Abebe Bikila through the use of reenactment mixed with real historical footage.  As Bikila trains for his last big race we learn about his past as flashbacks show us the actual footage from several of his most famous races.    The old footage of Bikila running is beautifully crosscut with Lakew’s running to give a powerful and dramatic intensity to his ability.

He inspired his not only his nation, but a whole continent as well.  Throughout his country people admire him for proving to the world that a true champion can come from anywhere.  However, Bikila still feels an overwhelming desire to prove to himself what a champion is.  When runs into a blind horse on the road, he opts not to put it out of it’s misery and instead leaves it to live on another day.  The horse seems to remind him of how one must always persevere and move forward.  His previous wins inspired his people, but a victory in Germany will be to prove to himself that anything is possible.

A car accident during his training, however, leaves him bound to a wheelchair with no movement in his legs.  The loss of his legs seems like the end of the world for Bikila, but somehow he maintains his faith that someday he will still make his appointment in Munich.  He perseveres and refuses to succumb to his disability and eventually becomes an archer competing in the Paralympics.

For his final race he competes in a handicapped dogsled race in Norway that gives him the confidence and closure he’s been searching for.  On returning to his homeland of Ethopia he shows a short movie of the highlights of his racing career spanning from his first win in Rome, to his final victory in Norway.  The faces of his countrymen reveal the pride they have for Bikila.  Even the Prime Minister looks touched and inspired.

The Athlete is a visually gorgeous look at the beautiful country of Ethiopia and the champion that ran for the sake of it.