Coming to virtual theatrical today, Friday, June 19:
RUNNER
Director:
Bill Gallagher
World Premiere:
DocLands 2019
Select Festivals:
Margaret Mead, Big Sky Doc, Woods Hole, Heartland, Hot Springs Doc, Lone Star
About:
A profile in perseverance, following a Sudanese refugee with an Olympic dream.
As a teenager, Guor Mading Maker (formerly Marial) managed to escape the civil war in Sudan, which eventually claimed the lives of most of his siblings, becoming a refugee in the US. When he settled in Concord NH, he was encouraged to join his high school’s track team, and continued to run in college, ultimately qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. Unable to run for the still nascent South Sudan, and unwilling to betray his people by competing under the Sudanese flag, he instead was able to compete under the Olympic flag. When he returned to the Olympics four years later, he proudly represented South Sudan. Director Bill Gallagher benefits from an immensely likeable protagonist, but his film unfortunately suffers from structural issues that often undercut any surprise or drama. Still, Maker’s story is inspiring, and it has won over audiences at festivals over the past year.
