Rising
From Ashes
(2012/First Run Features DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C Documentary: B+
American
cyclist Jock Boyer journeys to Rwanda to find the next generation of
riders to form the first Rwanda National Cycling Team. From a
country filled with poverty and civil unrest he searches those with
natural talent to become professional cyclists on an international
level and train them for the next 6 years to qualify and compete in
the Olympic Games and we see just about all of it in T.C. Johnstone's
Rising
From Ashes
(2012).
Jock
Boyer is a world famous cyclist, and now he starts a new team of
cyclists from an unexpected place, Rwanda. After generations of
Rwandans were affected by the massive genocide over a 100 day period,
Jock finds people who have managed to suirvive the horrendous
circumstances and have the raw talent to become something more than
they could have ever imagined. As they journey together they train
and learn how to be top level athletes and as their experience,
strength and confidence grows, they become a symbol of hope for all
Rwandans, that they can rise above the ashes of their war torn
country, becoming more than what they are, and to give hope to the
future.
This
documentary is a journey of training to overcome hardships and to
show how far a man can go. It is more than just Olympics and sports,
it is the story of how Rwandans can challenge and change their lives,
and maybe even change the world. Born into a country filled with
hardships, strife, they now have something more than charity and
bikes, but something all Rwandans can be proud of. The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0
sound can be weak, but it is in the nature of how this was produced.
Extras include behind the scenes and making of the film.
-
Ricky Chiang
