Running Against the Wind

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1:29

Running Against the Wind

2019

2h 30m

Drama

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56%

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9 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Two twelve-year-old boys grow up together in a remote village -- until a single photo changes their lives forever: Solomon heads for Addis Ababa to become a photographer. Abdi remains at home and trains to fulfil his dream of matching the sport successes of Haile Gebrselassie. Ten years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa. He feels Solomon must be dead by now, but an inner voice tells him to look for his old friend. And in fact Solomon is still alive, but in a complete different world to Abdi's with his story of success. Abdi's source of power is his running shoes -- Solomon survives thanks to his wife Genet and the love of his three-year-old daughter Fikir.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

07/10/2021

At the very least, its light and uplifting mode is a welcome departure from the violent, overwhelmingly tragic course of most films set in Africa that are released in the United States. Sometimes happy endings do the trick.

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Michael Ordoña

Los Angeles Times

07/08/2021

While a title card tells us the film is "inspired by true events," it's hard to find verification of them, or any background for the tale - no matter; where it winds up going isn't extreme enough to be unbelievable.

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Phuong Le

Guardian

06/08/2021

3/5

The deft camerawork showcases a dynamic Ethiopia - from tiny villages to the gritty underbelly of bustling Addis Ababa - and, let's face it, everyone loves a good training montage.

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Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

08/08/2021

3

Very flawed, but heartfelt, visually gorgeous, and suffused with an almost guileless earnestness.

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

07/19/2021

4/5

A rich and charismatic film with natural appeal, Running Against The Wind may not quite measure up to its considerable ambition but certainly won't disappoint.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

07/10/2021

6/10

A good training or racing montage...can always lift the spirits, and the straightforward nature of running (the point is to cross the finish line first, and everyone can see who does so) makes the sport inherently film-friendly.

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Jan Philipp Weyl

Director

Ashenafi Nigusu

Abdi Getachew

Mikias Wolde

Solomon Tefera

Joseph Reta Belay

Kiflom

Ferhane Beker

Young Abdi

Alamudin Abduselam

Young Solomon

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Running Against the Wind: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Two twelve-year-old boys grow up together in a remote village -- until a single photo changes their lives forever: Solomon heads for Addis Ababa to become a photographer. Abdi remains at home and trains to fulfil his dream of matching the sport successes of Haile Gebrselassie. Ten years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa. He feels Solomon must be dead by now, but an inner voice tells him to look for his old friend. And in fact Solomon is still alive, but in a complete different world to Abdi's with his story of success. Abdi's source of power is his running shoes -- Solomon survives thanks to his wife Genet and the love of his three-year-old daughter Fikir.

Director: Jan Philipp Weyl
Producer: Samerawit Seid Kekebo, Chris Naumann, Andreas Seck, Jan Philipp Weyl
Screenwriter: Jan Philipp Weyl, Michael Wogh
Production Co: Ac Independent Film, R&B Räuber & Banditen Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Amharic
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 9, 2021
Runtime: 2h 30m

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