I love sport movies. And I watch mostly track-and-field and cycling sport movies. And I've seen pretty much everything that is to see for runners: "Personal Best", "Chariots of Fire", "Race", "McFarland USA", "Without Limits", "Prefontaine", "Running Brave", you name it. I was a long-distance runner hobbyist for a while too. And I have to say "Zatopek" 2021 is one of the very best and finest sport movies out there that is to see.
I don't know where to begin. First of all, this is absolutely not the typical sport movie one would expect. No. There is not the typical kung-fu style story development of the innocent little kid and his drama, who decides to embark on his personal spiritual and physical development and unwind it all in one great race to prove it all. No. The story unveils step by step, little by little and seen trough the eyes of Zatopek, the eyes of his wife Dana and Ron Clarke. Everything is shown with great attention to detail and trough the prism of the then existing Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. What one western viewer would see here would be completely alien to him, but coming from an ex-communist country myself I perfectly do understand everything happening in the movie and appreciate the detail it was all shown to us.
Speaking of the cinematography, the camera work and the editing, it is all perfectly done. There are really good scenes, beautiful landscapes. Music is really well made. Overall it is also a fine example of a great Director work, as watching this movie does not feel like watching a movie at all. It pretty much feels like living it. And this is the great about it - it is one of the movies I would definitelly want to watch again.
Actors act really good. Decors on the set are great. It really make you feel like you are in the 50s Czechoslovakia so you just lean back and enjoy the story.
Generally I seriously recommend seeing this movie not just to the sport movie fans, but also to any good movie lover out there. This is not just a good sport movie, this is a really well made movie in general. But speaking of sport movies, "Zatopek" 2021 is one of the VERY BEST sport movies EVER, because this is not just a good story, but also a story which has actually to offer a full palette of details. Think of "Personal Best" served with a lot other things.
It is needed to mention that there is a "Zatopek" comic book by Jan Novák published in 2016, which I actually got in 2021 but still had no time to read. Maybe now is a good time.
