Social pressure and personal turmoil beset two very different British athletes – devout Christian Eric Liddell and Jewish Cambridge student Harold Abrahams – on their way to glory in the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Their motives are noble. Their commitment is total. Their integrity is unquestionable. They will both make personal sacrifices to achieve their goals. In the process, through all the obstacles and personal issues they conquer, they prove that striving for victory in their own terms is, perhaps, its own reward.
Featuring a timeless, goosebump-inducing score by Vangelis, this rousing story of faith and determination – produced by titan of British cinema David Puttnam (Local Hero, The Mission) – was the worthy recipient of gold at the Oscars, winning Best Picture amongst three other Academy Award wins.