PENTATHLON

US, 1994, 97 minutes, Colour.
Dolph Lundgren, David Soul.
Directed by Bruce Malmuth.

Pentathlon is a star vehicle for Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren, after appearing with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, tried to carve himself a career in action thrillers. They had moderate success - and were always a touch over-violent. He teamed with Jean Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier and with Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic. He was executive producer of this film.

The setting is interesting: East Germany in the late '80s and their presence in the Olympic Games. The contrast is made with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the freedom for East Germans and the decisions that the former Stasi officers had to make about the new world order - many of them going into terrorism and criminal activity. David Soul seems the perfect embodiment of the vicious ex-Stasi officer who moves into international terrorism.

The film is fairly conventional - but is quite entertaining of its type.

1.An action thriller, the background of sport, the background of politics?

2.The history of East Germany, the role of East Germany in the Cold War, in relationship to the United States, the involvement in sport and excelling in sport? The transition from the '80s to the '90s? The use of Eastern European locations, America and Los Angeles? The musical score?

3.The title, the pentathlon itself, the various events, winning and medals?

4.The prologue, the children, children growing up in East Germany, character-building, education, sport and achievement? The supervision and the pressures on them? Their place in family? The pressures on family by the state? The indication of themes?

5.East Germany in the '70s and '80s, the domination of the Stasi officers, their brutality, even towards children? Their moving into neo-Nazi activity? The collapse, the decline, the rallies in Germany, terrorism and craziness in neo-Nazi action?

6.Erik and his fall in the race, his father's benign attitude (and his father's death)? The race, the officer supervising him? Going to the United States? Mueller and the friendship? The escape, being shot, Julia? Los Angeles and Erik's collapse, the transitions of 1989? Julia getting out?

7.The transition to 1993, Erik's collapse, in the bars, the room, dingy, working in the hamburger joint? Seeming hopelessness? The discussions, his smile, the encounter with Creese? Creese making him exert himself, the running? The medal and the memories? His starting to train again?

8.Creese and Sheila, their friendship, getting Erik on his feet again, Olympic prospects? Success - and the shooting?
9.The fence, bad loser, Julia, their being together again? The father, the danger?

10.Mueller and the rivalry, running for Germany? The raid, going to the US? The ex-Stasi officer and his domination, his organisation, the henchmen? The championship and the drugs? Going to Los Angeles? The locals and the committee, the fanatics? The Stasi and the officer shooting? Los Angeles, the beach, following Erik, taking him, the house, the restaurant? The rally, the television, the plans, the demonstration - and their going awry? His death?

11.Mueller and the madness, the television, the death, the broadcast, confronting Erik, not killing him, his death? Erik and the change, the effect of love rather than power?

12.The sports sequences and their effectiveness? The rallies, the build-up to the climax and the excitement, the confrontation?

13.The fable of being down and out, the possibility of rising to success again?

14.An entertaining Dolph Lundgren vehicle?