This review originally appeared on the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s “Roll Film” movie review site (http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=219_0_6_0). Each film was also reviewed by my CBF colleague, Greg Borzo, who focused more on the bike content.
EMMANUEL'S GIFT
2 1/2 Wheels
I had never heard of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, but after seeing the moving and inspirational documentary, Emmanuel's Gift, I will certainly never forget him. He is a true-life hero and, because it tells his story, this film deserves to be seen.
Like 10 percent of the population of Ghana, his home country, Emmanuel was born disabled. A deformity in one of his legs had rendered it useless, which would be hard enough for anybody, but was even more devastating in a culture where the disabled are looked upon as cursed and destined only to be beggars. Emmanuel, however, will not be relegated. He trains himself to ride a bicycle using only his one good leg and, in 2002, cycled 600 kilometers across Ghana.
While Emmanuel's Gift features some footage of Emmanuel riding, unfortunately, his miraculous cross-country trek was not filmed. What we do see is how this ride changed not only Emmanuel's life, but the culture of Ghana itself. Emmanuel's persistence and charisma are evident in the comprehensive interviews he gives throughout the film.
Just as inspirational is the bond he forms with other disabled athletes, especially Jim MacLaren, whose own story could make just as moving a film. These bonds set the stage for Emmanuel's true calling, improving the lives of his countless handicapped brethren, still suffering from lack of care and understanding in Ghana.
Emmanuel's Gift is a documentary made to promote this cause. Because the cause is so noble, it's tempting to give the film a pass on its shortcomings. Because Emmanuel's story is so compelling, it makes for a compelling film, but this is entirely due to the subject matter and not anything the filmmakers bring to the table. Sister directors Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern deserve praise for bringing this documentary to the big screen, but their only previous credentials had been in making short films for the Olympics.
Non-stop music combined with a distracting and unnecessary narration from Oprah Winfrey often undercut the real drama being played out. As long as we're watching Emmanuel's story unfold, we're captivated, but there are simply too many scenes where we are being told what we're seeing and how we should be reacting to it.
It's interesting that this film is being released in the same year as Murderball, another documentary about disabled athletes. The tones are very different in that Murderball rejects sentimentality while Emanuel's Gift embraces it. The underlying message that spirit and hope can overcome physical limitations is present in both films, but the way it's communicated could not be more different.
Emmanuel's Gift may be a flawed film, but one benefit of the documentary format is that real life can provide genuine moments of truth not subject to the perspective of filmmakers. One such moment is watching Emmanuel fitted with a prosthetic leg after surgery. By this point in the film, we have come to know him and we know it won't be long until he's running marathons and helping others follow in his footsteps.
EMMANUEL'S GIFT
2 1/2 Wheels
I had never heard of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, but after seeing the moving and inspirational documentary, Emmanuel's Gift, I will certainly never forget him. He is a true-life hero and, because it tells his story, this film deserves to be seen.
Like 10 percent of the population of Ghana, his home country, Emmanuel was born disabled. A deformity in one of his legs had rendered it useless, which would be hard enough for anybody, but was even more devastating in a culture where the disabled are looked upon as cursed and destined only to be beggars. Emmanuel, however, will not be relegated. He trains himself to ride a bicycle using only his one good leg and, in 2002, cycled 600 kilometers across Ghana.
While Emmanuel's Gift features some footage of Emmanuel riding, unfortunately, his miraculous cross-country trek was not filmed. What we do see is how this ride changed not only Emmanuel's life, but the culture of Ghana itself. Emmanuel's persistence and charisma are evident in the comprehensive interviews he gives throughout the film.
Just as inspirational is the bond he forms with other disabled athletes, especially Jim MacLaren, whose own story could make just as moving a film. These bonds set the stage for Emmanuel's true calling, improving the lives of his countless handicapped brethren, still suffering from lack of care and understanding in Ghana.
Emmanuel's Gift is a documentary made to promote this cause. Because the cause is so noble, it's tempting to give the film a pass on its shortcomings. Because Emmanuel's story is so compelling, it makes for a compelling film, but this is entirely due to the subject matter and not anything the filmmakers bring to the table. Sister directors Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern deserve praise for bringing this documentary to the big screen, but their only previous credentials had been in making short films for the Olympics.
Non-stop music combined with a distracting and unnecessary narration from Oprah Winfrey often undercut the real drama being played out. As long as we're watching Emmanuel's story unfold, we're captivated, but there are simply too many scenes where we are being told what we're seeing and how we should be reacting to it.
It's interesting that this film is being released in the same year as Murderball, another documentary about disabled athletes. The tones are very different in that Murderball rejects sentimentality while Emanuel's Gift embraces it. The underlying message that spirit and hope can overcome physical limitations is present in both films, but the way it's communicated could not be more different.
Emmanuel's Gift may be a flawed film, but one benefit of the documentary format is that real life can provide genuine moments of truth not subject to the perspective of filmmakers. One such moment is watching Emmanuel fitted with a prosthetic leg after surgery. By this point in the film, we have come to know him and we know it won't be long until he's running marathons and helping others follow in his footsteps.
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