Looking to the future in Running Against The Wind Photo: Yenefasu Felemia
The story of two boys whose destinies diverge as each pursues his passion, Running Against The Wind was Ethiopia’s entry for Best Film not in the English Language at the 2020 Oscars. It’s now out on on Blu-ray in the UK and enjoying a cinematic release in the US. It stems from an idea which German director Jan Philipp Weyl had over a decade ago as a high schooler, when he was invited to Ethiopia by the actor and philanthropist Karlheinz Böhm. When we connected to discuss the film, he explained how it happened.
“I collected more than €23,000, starting from eighth grade, in order to build a school in Ethiopia. Back then, you know, it was a different time. There was no social media yet. It was me and my friend, we we kept on going selling...
The story of two boys whose destinies diverge as each pursues his passion, Running Against The Wind was Ethiopia’s entry for Best Film not in the English Language at the 2020 Oscars. It’s now out on on Blu-ray in the UK and enjoying a cinematic release in the US. It stems from an idea which German director Jan Philipp Weyl had over a decade ago as a high schooler, when he was invited to Ethiopia by the actor and philanthropist Karlheinz Böhm. When we connected to discuss the film, he explained how it happened.
“I collected more than €23,000, starting from eighth grade, in order to build a school in Ethiopia. Back then, you know, it was a different time. There was no social media yet. It was me and my friend, we we kept on going selling...
- 7/20/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
There can't be many more challenging places to become a runner than Ethiopia, which has consistently produced some of the best in the world, but in this engaging film by newcomer Jan Philipp Weyl it's a route out of poverty for young Abdi (Ferhane Beker; later Ashenafi Nigusu). His natural talent and hard work could take him all the way to the top, but he never forgets his childhood friendship with Solomon (Alamudin Abduselam; later Mikias Wolde), who set off for the city as a kid, hoping to make his name as a photographer. When their paths cross again, it changes both their lives.
Opening with two charming young leads who quickly get the audience engaged, the film unfolds into a multi-layered drama which explores many aspects of life in modern Addis Ababa and its environs. Cities everywhere have a habit of eating up young people who go there to seek.
Opening with two charming young leads who quickly get the audience engaged, the film unfolds into a multi-layered drama which explores many aspects of life in modern Addis Ababa and its environs. Cities everywhere have a habit of eating up young people who go there to seek.
- 7/8/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Watching this Ethiopian drama is rather like sitting through an assembly when you’re 15 years old. Your buttocks going numb on the hard gymnasium floor as the speaker holds forth about ‘potential’ and the various ‘crossroads’ that we, the year group, are going to encounter. That is because Running Against the Wind is an earnest little morality tale about two young boys and their transition to adulthood – hopes and dreams and all that stuff.
The two boys are Solomon (Mikias Wolde), a recalcitrant troublemaker, and Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu), a shy and sensible type. Together they live in rural Ethiopia, a harsh place with very little to go around. The boys go separate ways when Solomon steals a camera and flees to Addis Ababa, where he dreams of becoming a photographer. The narrative then shifts through their adolescence and into early adulthood, where we find that Abdi has become a famous...
The two boys are Solomon (Mikias Wolde), a recalcitrant troublemaker, and Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu), a shy and sensible type. Together they live in rural Ethiopia, a harsh place with very little to go around. The boys go separate ways when Solomon steals a camera and flees to Addis Ababa, where he dreams of becoming a photographer. The narrative then shifts through their adolescence and into early adulthood, where we find that Abdi has become a famous...
- 6/22/2021
- by Jack Hawkins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Story of two young men from rural Ethiopia dreaming of new lives is engaging at times – and boasts a cameo by Haile Gebrselassie
Opening with the impressionistic image of a young man sprinting across the desert, his figure blurred by the sandy blast of a dust devil, Jan Philipp Weyl’s film ruminates on life’s unexpected whirlwinds that can either uplift one’s hopes or blow them to pieces.
Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu) and Solomon (Mikias Wolde) are childhood friends who grow up in rural Ethiopia. Their paths diverge dramatically when Solomon runs away to the big city with dreams of becoming a photographer, only to end up on the streets, scraping for food and mixing with bad company. Ten years later, Abdi, who idolises the Olympic runner Haile Gebrselassie, also moves to the capital, where he continues training and even wins a national championship. After an emotional reunion, Abdi...
Opening with the impressionistic image of a young man sprinting across the desert, his figure blurred by the sandy blast of a dust devil, Jan Philipp Weyl’s film ruminates on life’s unexpected whirlwinds that can either uplift one’s hopes or blow them to pieces.
Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu) and Solomon (Mikias Wolde) are childhood friends who grow up in rural Ethiopia. Their paths diverge dramatically when Solomon runs away to the big city with dreams of becoming a photographer, only to end up on the streets, scraping for food and mixing with bad company. Ten years later, Abdi, who idolises the Olympic runner Haile Gebrselassie, also moves to the capital, where he continues training and even wins a national championship. After an emotional reunion, Abdi...
- 6/7/2021
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
"I want to be a runner! But do I have to ignore my friend in need for the sake of my dream?" A very good question to be ask. Samuel Goldwyn Films has released an official trailer for an indie drama titled Running Against the Wind, made by filmmaker Jan Philipp Weyl. This first premiered at the Amplify Film Festival last year, and is getting a release in the US this year. Set in Ethiopia, two men are running to achieve their dreams. The film follows the stories of two friends: Solomon, who moves to the capital Addis Ababa to become a photographer. And his friend Abdi, who becomes a talented runner and also makes his way to Addis Ababa, where he begins searching for his old friend to find out what happened to him. The film stars Mikias Wolde as Solomon, and Ashenafi Nigusu as Abdi, along with Joseph Reta Belay,...
- 6/3/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Samuel Goldwyn Films Acquires North American Rights To Ethiopian Thriller ‘Running Against The Wind’
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to Jan Philipp Weyl’s debut feature, Running Against the Wind, and is releasing the film on Digital and VOD July 9.
The Ethiopian thriller, starring newcomers Mikias Wolde, Ashenafi Nigusu, and Joseph Reta Belay, centers on two 12-year-old boys who grow up together in a remote village—until a single photograph leads them in different directions, changing their lives forever.
While Solomon (Wolde) heads to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to become a photographer, Abdi (Nigusu) remains at home, training to fulfill his dream of being a successful runner Haile Gebrselassie. 10 years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa, where he reconnects with his old friend, and the pair are left to compare their quite different stories of success.
The acquisition announcement was made today by Samuel Goldwyn Films’ President, Peter Goldwyn. “Running Against The Wind...
The Ethiopian thriller, starring newcomers Mikias Wolde, Ashenafi Nigusu, and Joseph Reta Belay, centers on two 12-year-old boys who grow up together in a remote village—until a single photograph leads them in different directions, changing their lives forever.
While Solomon (Wolde) heads to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to become a photographer, Abdi (Nigusu) remains at home, training to fulfill his dream of being a successful runner Haile Gebrselassie. 10 years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa, where he reconnects with his old friend, and the pair are left to compare their quite different stories of success.
The acquisition announcement was made today by Samuel Goldwyn Films’ President, Peter Goldwyn. “Running Against The Wind...
- 6/3/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
French sales group Wide Management has picked up worldwide rights, outside of Ethiopia, for Jan Philipp Weyl's coming-of-age drama Running Against the Wind.
The feature, which was Ethiopia's official entry for the best international film Oscar, will be presented to buyers next month at Cannes' virtual film market, the Marché du Film Online.
The film follows two friends growing up in a remote village whose lives are changed by a single photo. Solomon leaves for the city to become a photographer. Abdi stays home and trains to be a long-distance runner, emulating his hero, Ethiopia's two-time Olympic gold ...
The feature, which was Ethiopia's official entry for the best international film Oscar, will be presented to buyers next month at Cannes' virtual film market, the Marché du Film Online.
The film follows two friends growing up in a remote village whose lives are changed by a single photo. Solomon leaves for the city to become a photographer. Abdi stays home and trains to be a long-distance runner, emulating his hero, Ethiopia's two-time Olympic gold ...
French sales group Wide Management has picked up worldwide rights, outside of Ethiopia, for Jan Philipp Weyl's coming-of-age drama Running Against the Wind.
The feature, which was Ethiopia's official entry for the best international film Oscar, will be presented to buyers next month at Cannes' virtual film market, the Marché du Film Online.
The film follows two friends growing up in a remote village whose lives are changed by a single photo. Solomon leaves for the city to become a photographer. Abdi stays home and trains to be a long-distance runner, emulating his hero, Ethiopia's two-time Olympic gold ...
The feature, which was Ethiopia's official entry for the best international film Oscar, will be presented to buyers next month at Cannes' virtual film market, the Marché du Film Online.
The film follows two friends growing up in a remote village whose lives are changed by a single photo. Solomon leaves for the city to become a photographer. Abdi stays home and trains to be a long-distance runner, emulating his hero, Ethiopia's two-time Olympic gold ...
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