I found the following in a new local blog called Pacer Films which posts about ‘Stories that inspire runners, cyclist and triathletes.’
“In 1959, at just nineteen years of age, Harry Jerome was Canada’s most promising track and field star and he was on his way to the Olympics in Rome. By 1962, after suffering a gruesome leg injury, there was every reason to think that his racing days were over… And so began his climb to what his coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman, called “the greatest comeback in track and field history.””
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 2010, “Mighty Jerome” was a pleasant surprise to have stumbled upon on Netflix Canada. Filmmaker Charles Officer combines some great archival footage with a series of original and very tastefully filmed re-enactment sequences and interviews with family, friends and teammates.
As a Vancouverite, the history of North Vancouver track & field as apparently being a premiere local sporting event, along with reference to a school a few blocks away from me in East Vancouver, were especially interesting.
The film is entirely in black & white (well, almost entirely…) which seemed like an odd choice at first, but quickly becomes part of its charm and helps to blend the old footage with the new. The choice may have also related to some of the underlying themes of racial conflict. Unfortunately, I suspect that the monochrome treatment is responsible for the film’s 2/5 rating on Netflix.
I’d definitely recommend checking out this film which can be purchased from NFB online. 4/5 stars for both story and production value.
