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Title: Running as protest
Review: This was a fascinating novel I read over 30 years ago. Seeing that it had been made into a movie, I bought it. I wasn't disappointed. Although a lot of time is spent documenting the runner's social/economic conditions, it ultimately makes sense in the context of the ending. I particularly liked the way the story shows the raw underbelly of poverty/social stigma (in England) and how people deal with it. From gleefully spending a loved ones insurance money, to stealing a car for fun, the story pulls no punches. It becomes easy to identify with the protagonist. The movie never veers from the novel in any significant way. It is all too clear why the runner does what he does at the end, despite knowing exactly what will result for him. I found the acting and filming superb.
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