Chariots of Fire

The film focuses on two Olympic runners. Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. They had won the Olympics 100 meters sprint and 400 meters sprint respectively. It’s easy to dismiss this film as another Christian film but rather, this film portrays both Harold’s and Eris’s motivation to win rather fairly.

Harold, a Cambridge student of Jewish decent struggles to affirm himself as a British. As he faces prejudice throughout his life, he is eager to prove himself. To serve that purpose he uses running as a way to bring himself up beyond prejudice and discrimination. It is interesting to note that, in his pursuit to excellence; Harold had requested the assistance of a coach to help improve himself. The Cambridge Masters had accused Harold of being unsportsmanlike by employing the services of a coach.

Eric on the other hand faces a different kind of challenge. As a son of a missionary he is expected to follow his father’s footsteps into going in missions in China. His sister’s biggest worry is for him to lose his faith when he runs. Prior to the Olympics, he faces his biggest dilemma. On whether to participate in the 100 meter sprint or to skip it all together as the race falls on a Sunday. According to his faith, the day is a sacred day and therefore he should not run on such a day.

Needless to say, both Harold and Eric held on to their beliefs. Harold in continuing the use of a coach and Eric to pursue running and to not run on a Sunday. It is safe to say that they both did win because of their training but to say that it is the only reason they won, would be an insult to their motivations. Their motivations to run and win goes beyond themselves. For Harold, it was to lift himself beyond his heritage and prejudice. For Eric, it was to fulfill a calling that he himself believe in. It was their belief that spur them to devote themselves to be the very best that they can be and beyond.