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Tony Richardson's "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" requires a lot from the viewer because it paints a pretty bleak picture of Britain in the early Sixties. Young Colin Smith(Tom Courtenay) is angry and rightly so. His father has died and his employer gives the family a pittance for his life's work. Mum indiscrimently wastes the money on silly things. Before Dad's body is cold Mum has already moved a male lover into the house. Society offers Colin little hope outside of mandatory conscription into the military or a dead-end factory job that probably bought his father an early grave. How does Colin lash out? A few wreckless acts like pinching an auto or breaking into a bakery and stealing a cash box. The last act lands Colin in reform school. At least there Colin can hope for some equity. No, not really because there's a pecking order there that usually depends on athletic prowess. So Colin takes up long distance running. Why does Colin run? Only he knows for sure and he's not telling. Courtenay is absolutely brilliant in a role that requires him to emote very little but convey the anger that seethes beneath the surface. Richardson expertly handles the different story threads here. The narrative requires him to go back and forth in time and the film is edited brilliantly. It's easy to lump this film with the other "angry young man" films that emerged from that time but "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" stands the test of time.Read full review
This is an excellent film by the British. Taps the brain as well as the emotions.
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