Guor Marial in “Runner”
‘Runner’: Sprint to Guor’s inspirational tale
Directed and written by: Bill Gallagher
Starring: Guor Marial, Jacob Lagu, Brad Poole, and Eric Brown
“Runner” – “I hope this (will) be an example for all the refugees across the world to not lose hope. They might think this is the end of the world for them, but there is always the next day.” - Guor Marial
Shortly after director Bill Gallagher’s documentary opens, the 2012 London Summer Olympics is the scene. It’s the final day, and the men’s marathon takes center stage, center city, and center broadcast television, as 105 athletes from 67 countries hope for gold, silver, or bronze. This film eyes one marathoner: Guor Marial. This 28 year old runs under the flag of the International Olympic Committee. He does not represent a country but lives in the United States after leaving (or escaping from) Sudan in 2001.
His story is anything but conventional, as “Runner” tries to keep up with Guor through twists, turns, and clear straightaways.
In some ways, life handed Gallagher the easiest job on the planet, because Mr. Marial’s tale writes itself, like Rodriguez’s, the singer-songwriter chronicled in “Searching for Sugar Man” (2012). That doc – which won 2013’s Best Documentary Oscar – delivers a jaw-dropping experience for the viewer, and “Runner” offers miles and miles of disbelief.
Guor’s history begins in Sudan, and more specifically, Pariang County, which unfortunately lies near the epicenter of a civil war. He was born into the deadly conflict, and South Sudanese activist Jacob Lagu explains that the fighting lasted over 50 years. After a while – let alone five decades – warfare can become institutional and wholly ingrained in the culture. In this case, it’s multigenerational. As a 7 year old and beyond, Guor suffered through unthinkable physical and emotional abuse that would downright shock most (if not all) residents in first-world countries, or anywhere else.
Without photographs or film footage, Gallagher relies on animation to visually communicate Guor’s childhood horrors. The director has little choice, but – admittedly – these recreated scenes paint emotive images that deliver vast wells of sympathy. These disturbing encounters weren’t temporary either, so a reprieve to the U.S.A. – in the form of the U.S. Refugee Admittance Program - offered an altogether different environment and a soothing and safe support system.
Gallagher finds friendly faces from Guor’s new hometown of Concord, N.H., and they recount the young Mr. Marial’s teenage years. Did he experience racism due to his atypical appearance in this New England small town? That question won’t be answered in this review, but know that Guor raised big smiles during recollections of his secondary schooling, but tears also fell, some of joy and others of sorrow.
Guor’s soft-spoken personality shines throughout the movie, and a familiar pattern of the said smiles and tears are his copilots. “Runner” is an inspirational picture, but also an emotional one. Imagine attempting to shake memories of kidnappings, burning villages, and executions from one’s childhood. Those images claim permanent status, so Sudan (actually, South Sudan) still calls to him, and he answers by giving back using his most obvious skill set. This personal journey takes staggering leaps, including Guor’s rise in high school cross-country and a remarkable jump to the marathon, but his life also takes unexpected tumbles. That old saying the measure of a person is their response after a setback certainly applies here, as another evident quality rings true with this Sudan-to-New Hampshire gentlemen: tireless resolve.
According to imdb.com, “Runner” is a 2019 movie, so the 2012 Olympics can’t (or really shouldn’t be) the last chronological moment in this film. It’s not even close, and although Guor Marial can comfortably live in the immediate present, there’s always the next day.
(3.5/4 stars)
Jeff – a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle – has penned film reviews since 2008, graduated from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and is a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic. Follow Jeff and the Phoenix Film Festival on Twitter @MitchFilmCritic and @PhoenixFilmFest, respectively.
