Endurance

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Endurance

G

Released May 14, 1999

1h 23m

Drama

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50%

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26 Reviews

52%

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250+ Ratings

This docudrama focuses on the life and accomplishments of Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie, who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. The revered athlete appears as himself, as do his parents, though scenes of his early years are dramatized and depict the aspiring young runner (Yonas Zergaw) learning how to channel his talent in rural Ethiopia. Most notably, however, the film presents footage of Gebrselassie's exciting Olympic win in the 10,000-meter category.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: F

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

More analytically inclined will be suspicious of the degree of contrivance involved and the stylistic idealization of Third World poverty.

Aug 5, 2008

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Jeff Millar

Houston Chronicle

I found the film engrossing, missing only the opportunity to spend more time with the mechanics of distance training and, perhaps through that, to learn how Gebrselassie became the world's best at what he does.

Jul 21, 2005

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 2/5

Aug 7, 2008

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Interesting on many levels, but doesn't quite show the passion of the human body like Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia or the thrill of the race like the recent Children of Heaven.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 26, 2006

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Todd Jorgenson

Denton Record-Chronicle

Rated: 5/5

Feb 17, 2005

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Audience Member

Not a spectacular docu-drama storyline, but done well.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Endurance, a rare and interesting film about Haile Gebrselassie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

This is one of the great sports documentaries and its apparent that few of the well know critics who have seen this film were ever athletes. Its an incredible story. One that show the resilience of a human being with a passionate mind. This is not Hollywood. Don't expect it to be.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You'll need plenty endurance of your own to make it through this painfully long eighty minutes. It's one of the most boring movies Disney has ever made. (First and only viewing - In my mid-twenties)

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

This was OK. I'm not sure if there were supposed to be subtitles and the copy I saw didn't have them? It didn't matter, not understanding the language made me focus on the images and the solitary nature of the long distance runner. Visually stunning and quite restrained for a Disney production.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a great movie, especially if you run. We've all seen stories about somebody rising above poverty and excelling at something. It is a true story that really illustrates that. The only drawback to this movie is that it was made 9 years too soon. For most athletes, the Olympics is the defining moment of their careers. But for Haile, it was only the beginning.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Bud Greenspan

Director

Leslie Woodhead

Director

Haile Gebrselassie

Self

Shawananness Gebrselassie

Haile's Mother

Yonas Zergaw

Young Haile Gebrsellasie

Tedesse Haile

Young Haile's Father

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Synopsis

This docudrama focuses on the life and accomplishments of Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie, who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. The revered athlete appears as himself, as do his parents, though scenes of his early years are dramatized and depict the aspiring young runner (Yonas Zergaw) learning how to channel his talent in rural Ethiopia. Most notably, however, the film presents footage of Gebrselassie's exciting Olympic win in the 10,000-meter category.

Director: Bud Greenspan, Leslie Woodhead
Producer: Terrence Malick, Max Palevsky, Edward R. Pressman
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 14, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $229.1K
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Surround

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