Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a classic film with fantastic running sequences. Colin Welland wrote the script, David Puttnam produced it, and Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, and Hugh Hudson directed it (Carter, 1983).
The Core Focus
The core focus centers around the British class hierarchy, which governed the nation after World War I. Two outsiders are featured: Liddell, a Scot born to a missionary in China, and Abraham, a Lithuanian Jew immigrant uncle. The two characters use running to assert their integrity and demonstrate to the viewer that all people should be treated equally. The movie triggers deep feelings among the audience not only through the victory but also through the unique moments that are head and seen.
Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell
Chariots of Fire focuses on the story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell and the reasons behind their running and competing in the Olympics of 1924. Their faith and background gave them determinations with Harold, a college student, feeling singled out in an anti-Semitic setting. Abraham wanted to deflect the attention from being a Jew while Liddell wanted the involvement to be a perfect expression of faith. The movie succeeds in proving to the viewer the extent to which these two men are moral and upstanding. The deep dialogue and the profound focus on the characters in play further reinforce the weight in the movie.
Film Style
A common feature in the film style is the use of slow motion at the opening and the closing credit. The film is dominated by this slow play that is also evident in other scenes of the film. There is only one regular motion which comes out in the movie. The editing was done in a professional way that manipulates the time in the film. At the beginning, there is an instance where the slow motion on the men running is made to go at the speed of the music, making the race a great event. The camera movement was, however, too much during the race. When Abraham and Liddell were racing in the courtyard in the presence of the students, the movement here was great because it was easy for the audience to see both faces of the runners. One is able to see the determination in their faces. The camera movement, therefore, comes out as having both positive and negative aspects, the negative part resulting in boredom and a turn off to some viewers.
Life Lessons
I believe that the film was geared towards letting the viewers understand that life is full of hardships and trials. However, total dedication of the mind is a means of overcoming the trials and using them as stepping stones towards success and fame. Another valuable lesson is learned that conquering problems entails integrity, sacrifice, and devotion. The film was worth winning the Oscar because of the outstanding blend of the various styles and the general theme. Apart from the excessive slow motions, I liked the cinematography. All the events were bathed in a golden light that reminiscences honorable time. This is a film worth dedicating to the minority in the population who feel they are not important and of lesser worth. Besides, a picture is painted that all human beings regardless of their background are capable of achieving their goals in life regardless of the tough hurdles socially, culturally, or economically.
References
Carter, E. (1983). Chariots of Fire: Traditional Values/False History. Jump Cut, 28, 14-17.
