The Athlete

2009

1h 25m

Biography

Drama

List

29%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After losing the use of his legs in a car accident, marathon runner Abebe Bikila (Rasselas Lakew) finds a new outlet for his athletic ability and competitive nature in archery and a type of sled-dog racing.

Mark Olsen

Los Angeles Times

There are perhaps two better films lurking within "Atletu," one a more straightforward documentary and the other a narrative biopic, but this hybrid falls flat.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 30, 2012

Full Review

London Evening Standard

The essential simplicity of this tale about a true hero is often very moving.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 29, 2012

Full Review

Henry Barnes

Guardian

It's a blend of documentary and drama, but while the archive clips of Bikila's victories are thrilling, the performances are flat and the script tired.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 28, 2012

Full Review

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

This is an ambitious and brave project which, if it doesn't quite reach the heights it might, is still a worthwhile watch and bodes well for both filmmakers in future.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 4, 2013

Full Review

Jason Solomons

Observer (UK)

Told through reconstruction and archive footage, the story of Ethiopian marathon legend Abebe Bikila can't muster the drama it deserves.

Jul 1, 2012

Full Review

Shaun Munro

What Culture

Effective at studying a physical specimen, but as an examination of a man in terms of what he means to his family and his country, the context is fatally scarce.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 25, 2012

Full Review

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Audience Member

The nice cinematography doesn't make up for a sloppily edited film where actually very little happens. The backstory has the potential to be an excellent docu-film or even a decent recreation of events but what's served up is less than inspiring. Great shots of Ethiopia though almost make it worth seeing. Almost but not quite.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

this biopic takes an interesting route by intertwining abebe bikila's story with the history of his native ethiopia, lending an importance to his athletic exploits that stretches far beyond mere personal accomplishment. however, it is worshipful to a fault, with its screenplay fawning so excessively over bikila that the other characters stop just short of proclaiming him a god on earth. this causes the film to work at cross-purposes with itself: it wants to be about more than just one man's quest for athletic excellence, yet it also can't help showering that man with praise at every possible opportunity. it's as if the directors don't trust the audience to draw their own conclusions about bikila's stature. at one point, a character comes right out and tells him, "you're a great man." thanks for spoonfeeding me your admiration, Movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Davey Frankel

Director

Rasselas Lakew

Director

Rasselas Lakew

Abebe Bikila

Dag Malmberg

Onni

Ruta Gedmintas

Charlotte

Abba Waka Dessalegn

The Priest

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Synopsis

After losing the use of his legs in a car accident, marathon runner Abebe Bikila (Rasselas Lakew) finds a new outlet for his athletic ability and competitive nature in archery and a type of sled-dog racing.

Director: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew
Producer: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew, Darryn Welch
Screenwriter: Rasselas Lakew, Davey Frankel, Mikael Amerio Awake
Production Co: AV Patchbay, Instinctive Film, Cinema Aethiopica
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 25m

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