Chariots of Fire

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

It boggles my mind to think of a time when a Christian film would be named Best Picture of the Year. Certainly, those days are long behind us. Chariots of Fire is more than just a "religious-themed" movie, it is a story about determination, hardship, sacrifice, faith, and triumph. It is one of the finest films ever made, and will have you a little damp about the eyes long before it reaches its final conclusion.

Running is a passion for the young men at Cambridge College. It is what inspires and encourages them. One of the fastest boys there is Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), a Jew who has had to work hard to push through the prejudices of society in order to become a success. What he wants most is to win an Olympic metal and prove to the world that there is triumph in his race. Rather arrogant about his high speeds, Harold is horrified and devastated when he is out-paced by Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a Scottish missionary who believes that God smiles whenever he runs. Determined to beat Eric the next time they are matched against one another, Harold goes begging to one of the finest trainers in London. Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm) is hardly interested... until he sees the boy run. Then glimpses of gold begin to come to him, and he puts Harold into extensive training in order to prepare him for the upcoming Olympics. Eric, meanwhile, is attempting to decide whether his true fate is that of a missionary in the wilds of the world, or if he is truly meant to bring home the gold to honor God.

Most of his family and friends are pushing him to compete for gold, but his sister Jenny (Cheryl Campbell) firmly believes that racing is a waste of time. Choosing to go against her and join the Olympic team, Eric is devastated to learn that his most important race is set for Sunday after the opening services. Devout in his faith, he believes that to run or compete on Sunday would not keep the day holy, and thus faces the most monumental decision of his life... whether to run and risk violating his conscience, or to stand firm and perhaps give up everything he hoped for. What results is a very gripping film about the ambitions of men. Most of the background characters are sketchy at best, and it could have used further outlining when it came to who was related to who, but overall it's an impacting film.

It is also one of the few films from the last forty years to portray a Christian accurately without pointing fingers, tossing slanders, or making him out to be a complete dolt. Eric is one of the best portrayals of a Christian man I have ever seen on film. He is generous, compassionate, and faithful to God. Not only that, he is extremely evangelical. When people gather to watch him run in his small community, he stands out in the rain and gives them a talk about salvation through Christ before stepping up to the starter line. Even when it seems everyone might turn against him, he doesn't waver in what he believes, and God rewards him for his faithfulness. The film also includes a footnote during the ending credits of what happened to him after the Olympics -- he became a missionary. Harold is also an extremely likable if ambitious young man, and it doesn't take long to really feel for his plight -- a struggle to prove something not only to himself but the rest of the world. We root for both boys to win and cry when they achieve their goals.

There is one minor fault and that is the film was a bit slow on towards the end, when it should have been building all of its momentum for the final race. But other than that (and that is merely personal opinion, not a critique) it's quite acceptable for a mixed audience. There are a handful of mild British profanities, but very little violence, no sexual content, and limited thematic elements. Harold does not seem to be a practicing Jew, which is unfortunate since it would have been an interesting clash of faith systems. Younger children won't enjoy it because it does demand a certain amount of involvement and understanding, but it is teens and young adults who would profit from it most, because it's rare that a film outlines a lesson so profoundly about choosing faith over the ways of the world .... and even better, it's a true story.