Die Einsamkeit des Langstreckenläufers (1962)
39KDie Einsamkeit des Langstreckenläufers: Directed by Tony Richardson. With Michael Redgrave, Tom Courtenay, Avis Bunnage, Alec McCowen. A juvenile offender faces ridicule from his peers when he impresses the governor of his tough reform school with his running ability and is encouraged to compete in an upcoming race.
“I caught this film late at night on cable, and it is the first movie Iu0026#39;ve seen with Tom Courtenay in it, who is excellent (Either by coincidence or design, King Rat was on only a few nights later).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIu0026#39;d never heard of this film before, but I was immediately transfixed by its look; something here is remarkable about the way black and white is used to further the overall feel and design of the film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHaving never been to the UK, I donu0026#39;t have a really good sense of how time passes there; to an American, England appears to age barely at all as seen through the cinema. But the themes here and the use of silence and the overall look of the film convey a society in the midst of change; as much as there is here that reminds one of the 1950s, there is an overwhelming 60s theme here about conformity and authority and society which is inescapable. I found myself cheering a bit at the end in the same way I cheered for Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke; here, as in that film, is the story of an individual who refused to be u0026quot;broken.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIu0026#39;d definitely rate this film as a key 1960s film, black and white, and yet thoroughly modern and not at all dated. A lot of care was put into this film from the performances to the camerawork, and while it is not something that would keep you on the edge of your seat, it is certainly a compelling story, compellingly told.”
