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ADELAIDE | PROGRAM 3 | Saturday 26 May, 07 6.00pm
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THE ULTIMATE
Dir: Allen Jewhurst and David Taylor
20min |
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A season with Greg LeMond in both Europe and America. Who makes the money? Do competitors take stimulants? What's in it for the riders, the sponsors, the camp followers? Plus some hilariously bitter exchanges between LeMond and Eddy Merckx. The (first) Americanisation of Le Tour and one of the only cycling films that has looked closely at LeMond’s racing career. |
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LEVIN’S BICYCLE
Dir: Benjamin Parzybok
18 min |
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Eastern European bicycle star and philosopher Levin Schersvanaskitty speaks about his relationship with his bicycle. A cautionary tale about love and bikes (subtitled).
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THE BUSINESS
Dir: York Films
20 min
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How mighty bicycle manufacturers like Schwinn of the USA, Raleigh of England, and Peugeot of France have lost their pre-eminence to Japan, Taiwan and China - and how the European and American industry is fighting back.
Plus a stunningly intimate look at the multi-billion yen racing business of Japanese Keirin…the tracks where cycle superstars attract 27 million spectators a year who support one of the world's biggest betting industries. For fans of track racing and the behind-the-scenes machinations of the cycling industry, this is not to be missed.
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VIVE LE TOUR
Dir: Louis Malle
18 min |
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Following the success of his early films, the French master Louis Malle offered himself a small treat: a short film of the 1962 Tour de France. Malle had always been fond of cycling, and the 'little queen' features prominently in most of his films.
For Malle, making VIVE LE TOUR was an opportunity to renew a fascination dating back from childhood, when he would follow the great race on the radio. By the time this documentary was made, the Tour had become a huge sporting and social phenomenon, due partly to television coverage. |
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VIVE LE TOUR attaches itself not just to the athletes, but also to the press entourage and the crowd, while brushing upon the already sensitive subject of drug use. "When I shot VIVE LE TOUR, what struck me was the violence, the suffering - it's probably the toughest sport that exists. So I filmed that: the accidents, the falls, the incredible effort when they climb mountain and how it's seen on their faces."
With its eloquent and evocative photography, accompanied by Georges Delerue's enchanting music, this is less a documentary and more a visual poem which says almost all there needs to be said on the greatest cycle race in the world.
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THE IMPOSSIBLE HOUR
Dir: Jorgen Leth
48 min |
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THE IMPOSSIBLE HOUR follows Danish racing star Ole Ritter as he tries to regain his record for the hour ride. He had set the record in 1968, only to have it shattered by Eddy Merckx in 1972.
A beautiful study of human limits and the quest for the heroic with a narration that represents some of the best writing about cycling one will ever hear.
Jorgen Leth is considered the master of the genre of cycling films and this is perhaps his most underrated work. |
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