Endurance (Docu-Drama)

Life is a race, for some more than others. Haile Gebrselassie has been called "the greatest runner in history", and his life-story, depicted in the docu-drama Endurance, is one of his determination from a young age and of inspiration for everyone else.

Leslie Woodhead takes a novel approach to the documentary genre and visually presents a story that leaves a far greater impression on the audience. There are no voiceovers and hardly any "interviews", rather Haile's life is told through dramatic reconstruction using "actors". Dialogue is kept to the bare minimum while the camera follows the characters, which mostly includes Haile's father, mother, brothers and sisters, as they go about their normal lives in poverty stricken and war-torn Ethiopia as farmers. The use of regional music adds to the appeal of the film and the occasional soundtrack of Haile's breathing while running has a certain rhythmic appeal to it. While the film utilizes substitutes for actual people, the authenticity is maintained as Woodhead sticks to a documentary like approach to camera work.

Born to a farming family in Ethiopia, Haile was one of 10 brothers and sisters who would run barefoot to school each day, a distance of 6 miles. What really stands out about Haile and his family is the zest in them to take life head on. There is almost a certain pride in the work they do, taking it as part of life chosen for them, and performing their duties to maintain their daily life. To rise above this and reach the heights that Haile has reached is the endurance that only a few can achieve. Endurance is also the theme across the other characters; be it the mother who while giving birth on a regular basis continues to raise children, perform daily household chores, and along with Haile travels 3 hours each day to get water or even his semi-authoritarian disapproving father who only has the benefit of his family at his heart so that his children can grow up and become something.

The documentary also is a look at the life of people in Ethiopia. Their faith, religion, superstitions, beliefs, spiritualism and a sense of community highlighted when everyone gets together to help each other during harvesting season. The film also has an equal dose emotional elements; There are heartwarming moments revolving around Haile's mother and especially when she falls sick and requests her husband not to re-marry till the children have grown up to take care of themselves. The subtle matchmaking and blossoming of love that takes place between Haile and Alem (later to become his wife) in Adisa Ababa, where Haile moves to train, is endearing to say the least. There are moments of gentle humor like when Haile's father (Bekele Gebrselassie) visits him in Adisa Ababa and on asking if he is tired Bekele replies, "Why? The bus did all the driving".

The story ends with Haile participating in the Atlanta Olympic finals. As he runs, his life flashes before his eyes in a moment of euphoria and determination. His dreams and aspirations all narrow down to that one moment in his life while everything he has endured as a child act as fuel giving him the power to carry on.

Endurance celebrates the life of a true sportsperson and brings to light, more apt now with the oncoming Olympics, that each person participating has a story behind them, a goal that they are trying to achieve after facing numerous hardships and sacrifices, with only a belief in themselves guiding them through to attain that lifelong dream.                 

Celebrate sportsmanship and the Olympics with Endurance.

Rating 4/5

DVD Information : Endurance

Release Date       9 July 2012

Certificate        U

Running Time       78 minutes

Teachings of an Actor (Anupam Kher)

There was a certain order amongst the apparent disorder as books mingled with musical instruments on stage. Penguin India's Spring Fever 2012 was holding as book talk with noted actor Anupam Kher followed by a musical performance by Faridkot, and the Amphitheater at the India Habitat Center was starting to fill up slowly. As Faridkot left the stage having just finished their sound check, hustling sounds from the back informed that Mr. Kher had arrived...

Animated, humorous, humble, and down to earth are but a few words that can be used to describe Anupam Kher. Ready to talk about his recently published book The Best Thing About You is You, Mr. Kher instantly lightened the mood of the gathering by cracking the joke "There are only two kids of people. There are baldies and there are future baldies". What followed was an hour and half long interaction where he spoke about his life, his father, his upbringing, and how he came about to becoming an "accidental writer".

Anupam Kher has long been an institution in Indian cinema. He has been part of some of the most successful Indian films ever taking on numerous diverse roles. He is also one of the few Indian actors who have seamlessly integrated themselves into the western counterparts of Indian cinema. His most famous “international” role till date being in the movie Bend it Like Beckham.

Mr. Kher’s move towards writing a book has a certain aptness to it. His autobiographical play, which has been running successfully all around the world over the last few years, is titled Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai (Anything Can Happen). It seems only appropriate that one of India's prominent film actors would end up writing an inspirational self-coaching book that would go out to become a best seller. After all, Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai.  

The Spring Fever 2012 Anupam Kher book talk was quite the lively interaction. Mr. Kher made us laugh, a lot. He made us think, He made us emotional and he made us introspect. In the end, as the audience surrounded him to get books signed, he disappeared in the sea of bodies, but he did leave behind a few words, words that give us an insight into his life and hopefully would have a long lasting impression on everyone present;

"My life started when I reached Bombay on 3rd June 1981"

(Mr. Kher talks about how having grown up in a loving environment in Shimla, his life changed when he reached Bombay)

"In every life there are people who resemble Hindi films"

"In Bombay nobody had time for me"

(Talking about the initial hardships he faced when he was looking to act in Bombay)

"Bheega hua aadmi baarish se nahi darta"

(A man drenched in water is not afraid of rain - A lesson in life Mr. Kher's grandfather wrote to him when Mr. Kher contemplated leaving his dream of acting and return to his hometown)

"For all of Saaransh I got Rs. 10,000"

(Playing an old man at the age of 27, Mr. Kher's breakthrough performance came in the movie Saaransh)

"My ghar ka naam is Bittoo"

("My name at home is Bittoo - Mr. Kher gets personal)

"Lessons My Father Taught Me Unknowingly - can be my next book. I don't know"

(Talking about the title of his next book, if ever he writes another book, Mr. Kher said that the only thing he can write about next is about his father)

"I am always ready to make a fool of myself"

"Failure can teach you much more than success. To me failure is multidimensional and success is single dimensional"

"I am a people oriented person and I genuinely like listening to people's stories. I am a good listener"

(On why people feel at ease talking about their lives with him)

"Cinema and acting are not my life, but a part of my life"

"I don't want to carry the burden of being someone else, I want to be myself"

"Meditation is concentration"

"When you are poor, the cheapest thing you have is happiness"