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Much has been documented about the act of running, a healing activity with potential for cathartic release. In the realm of competitive games, though, the stress of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past trophies and medals to examine the core impetus that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories diverge when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the story follows their mental obstacles, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; time and time again, a character’s inner doubts simply disappear after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Using live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over filmed sequences, the feature creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The physical exertion of a race is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of grey strokes that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the film aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.