The Athlete
Encyclopedia
The Athlete is a 2009 Ethiopian drama film
directed by Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew. The film was selected as the Ethiopian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 83rd Academy Awards
, but it didn't make the final shortlist. It was the first Ethiopian film to be submitted in the category for Best Foreign Language Film.
The film is about Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bikila
, who won a gold medal in the marathon at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew. The film was selected as the Ethiopian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 83rd Academy Awards
83rd Academy Awards
The 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2010 and took place February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, Academy Awards ...
, but it didn't make the final shortlist. It was the first Ethiopian film to be submitted in the category for Best Foreign Language Film.
The film is about Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila was a two-time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. A stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his honor.-1932–1959:...
, who won a gold medal in the marathon at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome.
Cast
- Rasselas Lakew as Abebe BikilaAbebe BikilaAbebe Bikila was a two-time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. A stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his honor.-1932–1959:...
- Dag Malmberg as Onni
- Ruta GedmintasRuta GedmintasRuta Gedmintas is an English actress known for her work on British television, primarily in Spooks: Code 9, The Tudors and Lip Service.-Biography:...
as Charlotte - Abba Waka Dessalegn as The Priest
See also
- List of submissions to the 83rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Sub-Saharan African submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon