The road to the Olympics
Looking forward to the Summer Olympics in Rio next month we have selected a few of our favorite French movies about Olympic sports. First up is triathlon, which features in the touching family drama The Finishers. In this moving film, a father obsessed with triathlon must come to terms with his estranged son’s disability, and find a way to combine his love for the sport with his love for his son.
Julien is a charming 17-year-old boy who is wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy. Despite their love for him, his family is gradually falling apart under the strain of dealing with his disability. In a bid to bond with his father, Julien challenges him to participate with him in the Ironman race in Nice, which consists of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and a 26-mile marathon. This trial is already exceptional, but it becomes almost impossible if one has to help a disabled youth throughout the course. Through backbreaking training, the father-and-son duo embrace the challenge, which draws them closer and spurs them on to the finish line.
Inspired by the true story of Team Hoyt – father and son Dick and Rick, who compete together in marathons and Ironman Triathlons despite Rick’s cerebral palsy – The Finishers is a moving portrait of the love between a father and his son as well as the unflinching resolve of elite and amateur athletes alike.
“Undeniably moving.” – Hollywood Reporter
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LHP