Into The Wind is a documentary about Terry Fox directed by Steve Nash and Ezra Holland. The documentary is part of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series which is described as:
Last Sunday, I was fortunate enough to be part of the first audience to see Into The Wind at the Toronto International Film Festival.
An unprecedented documentary series featuring thirty films from some of today’s finest storytellers. Each filmmaker will bring their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009. (from ESPN website)
The documentary doesn't only recount the Marathon of Hope from 1980, it includes current interviews with key figures in the story including his parents, his brother and his best friend (Doug Alward) who drove the van during the Marathon of Hope.
They also interviewed Douglas Coupland who wrote the book Terry commemorating the 25th anniversary of the run and Leslie Scrivener a Toronto Star journalist who after following Terry on the Marathon of Hope wrote the book Terry Fox: His Story in 1981 and re-released it in 2000.
The filmmakers didn't portray an idealistic view of the Marathon of Hope. They didn't sugar coat the story. They showed the struggles and the frustration experienced both by Terry, his friend and his family. In doing so, it makes us feel closer to Terry, like if we knew him. He wasn't perfect but there is no doubt of his dedication to his cause.
The documentary covers the Marathon of Hope, but also gives us a glimpse of his life before he had cancer. It reveals how Terry came up with the idea to run across the country and how he prepared for it. It documents the struggles Steve and his friend Doug experienced at the beginning when getting the media to pay attention was difficult and then when the opposite occurred in Ontario where media attention was overwhelming.
In honour of the 30th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope, the documentary about Terry Fox that Steve Nash directed was aired on TSN2 last night, with upcoming encore broadcasts on TSN and CTV. You can see more detail here. It will debut in the U.S. on ESPN on September 30th.
Steve Nash and Ezra Holland are hoping to introduce more people to Terry's story by making this film for an American audience, but also celebrate a Canadian icon.
Although it is heartbreaking, more importantly, it is so inspiring. Terry is a great example of what one person can do. He was truly an exceptional human being who had incredible motivation to achieve his goals and overcome obstacles.
Whether you are very familiar with Terry's story or are new to it, Into The Wind is a documentary worth watching.
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