RUNNING BRAVE

Canada, 1987, 93 minutes, Colour.
Robbie Benson, Pat Hingle, Claudia Cron, August Schellenberg.
Directed by D.S.Everett.

An entertaining popular story of an American athlete. It focuses on Billy Mills, a reservation Indian, who has an ability at running, gets an opportunity to go to university, feels the pressures of racial tensions as well as the winning ethos of his coach. Seeming to fail in his endeavours, he returns to the reservation, enlists in the Marines, marries his sweetheart and trains. Eventually he is selected for the Tokyo Olympics - and succeeds in the 10,000 metres (incidentally beating the favourite Australia's Ron Clarke).

Billy Mills was in the tradition of Indian athlete Jim Thorpe (whose biography. Jim Thorpe All American, Man of Bronze starred Burt Lancaster).

Robbie Benson is his usual self in the central role. Pat Hingle has a good role as his coach. There is nothing particularly new in the treatment of the theme - but it is done efficiently. The Director, Canadian Donald Shebib (Going Down the Road, Second Wind) wanted his name taken from the film and the credit is to D.S. Everett for direction.

1. An interesting film about sports endeavour and achievement? the focus on the American Indian and his achievement? American themes?

2. The portrait of Americans in the 60's? the Indian reservations? The university campuses? Athletic training? the Tokyo Olympics? the use of locations? editing and pace - especially for running and training? the musical score - and the songs, like 'A Summer Place', echoing the period?

3. The title and its focus on athletic achievement, courage? its focus on the Indian athlete, the successful Brave?

4. The portrait of Billy Mills? Robbie Benson's presence in the central role? his life at the reservation? the background of the Sioux way of life? his winning the scholarship to the University of Kansas? his response to coach Easton? the pressure of precedence where Indians had given up and gone back home? the pressures of the white world, prejudices, academic standards? the racial intolerance? Billy and his adapting? the encounter with his room mate and the beginning of breaking down prejudices? the effect of the training on him, the ethos of winning? the emphasis on success? his exhilaration in running? what it did for his inner spirit? in nature? the encounter with Pat Harris? the beginnings of a romance? the encounter with his brothers and sister? there reaction to Pat and her white life style? the criticisms of Billy and his reaction? the pressure from the insurance company - sponsorship, success? his sense of responsibility? his reaction against the training, the regimentation? his beginning to lose? the decision to run away? the effect of his returning home? his Olympics hopes? the reaction to the children? their sense of achievement through him? his friendship with Frank, his work, art, comments on the reservation, fear of leaving, his suicide? Billy and the marines and his success? his marrying Pat? training, selection? his place at the beginning of the 10,000 metres? the drama of his running, beating the favourite? the reaction of coach Easton? Pat? what he had achieved for himself and his people?

5. Coach Easton and the styles of the American university, the rigorous training regimes, the psychological techniques for imposing pressure? his understanding of Billy Mills? his decisions about his training, speaking to him, goading him? expectations of failure? the insurance companies? his disappointment? his reaction to his Olympic achievement?

6. The white students at the university? prejudice, intolerance? the roommate and the breaking down of prejudice? Billy's gaining -friends? the encounter with Pat, the romance, the white patterns, his family rejecting her life style, his marrying her? her sharing in his achievement?

7. The portrait of the Indians, the way of life at the reservation, the outskirts of American society, the rules and regulations on the reservation? life style? Billy's coming from the reservation, his brothers and his sister, the visit to the white household and the reaction? his return home, his being different, the running and the training, the effect of the kids, the friendship with Frank and the impact of his suicide? the film's comment on the treatment of the American Indians in the 60's?

8. The world if big business - at the universities, the insurance companies, scholarships and sponsorships?

9. The Olympic Games and their prestige, aura? training, selection? hopes and ambitions? Billy's atonement and techniques in the success at the Olympics?

10. A film about human nature, origins, way of life, pressures, ethos of success, self respect, relationships, achievement?