Film “Atletu” (Abebe Bikila) to screen in Californian cities beginning Nov 7
Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefooted Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became a sports legend. A hero in his own country and to the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal, and four years later in Tokyo would become the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon.
This soldier and quiet son of a shepherd would be acknowledged by many as the greatest long distance runner the world had ever known. One evening while returning to his home in Addis Ababa from training in the Ethiopian countryside, Bikila was involved in a tragic car accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Unable to walk and faced with the greatest challenge of his life, he struggled to maintain his will to live and in the process discovered a deeper meaning of competition, taking up archery for the Paralympics and competing as a handicapped dog sledder in Norway. Though his running career had come to a tragic end, the race of his life had a new beginning. For the first time, the true story of Bikila’s epic quest for life and sport comes to the big screen. Not since Raging Bull has the life of an athlete been rendered with such emotional power and cinematic grace.
FILM FESTIVAL FLIX THEATERS AND TIMES
Wednesday, November 7th
Pasadena
Laemmle’s Pasadena Playhouse
Thursday, November 8th
North Hollywood
Laemmle’s North Hollywood
Monday, November 12th
Salt Lake City
Brewvies Cinema Pub
New Orleans
Zeitgeist Theatre
Tuesday, November 13th
Denver
Denver Comedy Works
Wednesday, November 14th
Dubuque, IA
Mindframe Theatre
Monday, November 19th
San Francisco
Balboa Theatre
Tuesday, November 20th
O-Cinema
FOR TICKETS:
Abebe ikila is an Oromo and Oromian citizen.He is not Ethiopia whatever he achieved is for Oromia not for habasha
I THINK ALL oromo know that Abebe Bikila was killed by hailesillasie- yes- at that time he was the first person known ethiopia to the world-accordingly white people started to come and visit abyssinia- they used to ask of found abyysinia sayin where is ababa bikilas country?? narrow minded hailesillasie upset many times becase these tuorists called abeba bikila’s country- and took time and killed him delibretely by another person by car!!! that is real history even habashas know- eventhough they donot want to say true as they do always!!!
Anywas who preapred the film?????? it gonna be awesome if by some oromo or by the ivolvement of oromo!!11