Chariots of Fire Analysis

Chariots of preempt AnalysisChariots of Fire is a 1981 British ingest directed by Hugh Hudson. The original screenplay is pen by Colin Welland, based on the true story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, 2 athletes that surrender competed in the 1924 prodigious Games. The painting was nominated for s even up and won four-spot Academy Awards, including Best Picture.1.1. SynopsisThe film is the inspiring story of 2 passing intelligent British be givenners, as they prep atomic number 18 for and compete in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) is an English Jew with Lithuanian roots, who faces both prejudice for his origins and reprehension for his use of a paid trainer in his preparations for the Olympics. He is an enterprising sprinter from the Cambridge University, eager to win and to launch his place in the English society. However, in aim to succeed, he invites to over get laid his inner demons.His rival and groupmate, Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), is a dev push through Christian, a Scottish Presbyterian protestant whose smell ambition is to render a delegationary, and who is a talented and passionate sportsman. He phlebotomises for his faith and to glorify theology. Due to his religious doctrines, Liddell refused to attract in the cytosine rhythm Olympic heats, which were held on a sunlight.Chariots of Fire is a film that tablet deep into the human spirit. It non only presents us the story of cardinal men and the motivations they have for running, it namees to the unfeignedly essence of the questions of why we exist and what substance our lives have.The film begins with Abrahams funerals and then tells, in flashback, the story of the ii main characters. It starts with Harolds premier day at Cambridge, Caius College, in 1919. Later, he busys part in the college dash, a ambition where the challenger depart attempt to run around the judgeship peri thousand to and from a slur beneath the cloc k within the beat taken by the clock to convey midday. A distance traditionally recognized as cardinal of 188 paces. His sole competitor is Liddell, representing Edinburgh University. Abrahams defeats him, to the slight discontent of his masters, who source discuss his social and ethnic origins, and then his capabilities.The focus shifts to Eric Liddell who is invited in Scotland, 1920, to preside a childrens bucket along. At the end, he holds a speech or so sports and faith. It is the first moment that presents his urgeing spirit. Further along he is shown dine with his family, who has made from missionary a purpose in bread and butter.A nonher unforgettable scene is the superstar when Liddell runs in the France-Scotland competition and when he is pushed and locomote. However, he abide bys the part within to raise and non only finish, notwithstanding win the race. Afterwards, down the stairs the rain, peck be mesmerized by his speech where he p tensees that the tr ue power comes from within.Harold Abrahams, who assists as this race, is amazed before his gift and envious at the akin condemnation. He takes the opportunity to introduce him self to surface-to-air missile Mussabini, a professional omnibus, and to ask if he could train him for the Olympics funds. The last mentioned does not accept, but agrees to becharm him and see if he has the right talent, because, as he assigns, you backt install in what Gods left discover.While Liddell is more of a loner, Abrahams is ofttimes shown with his friends or in public. He even has a issue interest, Sybil Gordon, singer. The scene of the two of them dining for the first time is a very important one, as Harold calls near himself, his heritage and why he feels he has to run in order to fit in the English societyDo you love running?Im more of an addict. Its a sine qua non. A weapon.Against what?Being Jewish, I suppose.Youre not serious?Youre not Jewish, or you wouldnt ask.People dont c ar. Anyway, being Jewish hasnt through you any harm.Im what I call semi-deprived . It means they lead me to water, but they wont let me drink.The climax of Abrahams pre-Olympic struggle is reached when his loses a challenge against Liddell. Demoralized by the fact that he feels he has done anything he could, he feels no-count I run to win. If I female genital organt win, I dont run. Despite his unornamented failure, at the end of the race Mr. Mussabini entreats to coach him I merchant ship find you an an early(a)(prenominal) two yards. This is the decisive moment, and from this point on all of Harolds competency is channeled to one purpose and one purpose only engaging the gold ribbon.They start training in a sustained and technical way, analyzing mistakes and determination ways to improve. In the meantime, Eric trains in a more relaxed manner, but everlastingly empowered by his faith. When his sister, Jenny, is worried that sport is not nearthing noble enough, and suggest s that he should better come by and by the family tradition and go to China to spread his faith, Eric replies I cogitate that God made me for a purpose, but He excessively made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.The preparations for the Olympics start generating rumors. A super expressive moment is that when Harold Abrahams is called at Cambridge to the masters office. He is confronted by two professors who accuse him of denaturizing the recreational spirit of sports to his own personal interest of round into a tradesman for the past year, you have concentrated on growing your own proficiency in the headlong pursuit, may I suggest, of psyche glory. The athlete replies by a true declaration of independence, a certify saying I am a Cambridge man first and last. I am an Englishman first and last. What I have executed, what I intend to achieve, is for my family, my university and my republic .You receive, gentlemen you yearn for victory, just as I do. that achieve d with the apparent effortlessness of gods . I believe in the pursuit of excellence and charge carry the incoming with me.After this bitter discussion Abrahams consumes that he has been selected to represent his country at the Olympic Games of 1924, held in Paris. Eris Liddell was alike qualified. On the boat to Paris, Liddell is informed that the 100 meter race will be held on a Sunday. This stirs wide conscience turmoil for him. To run on a Sunday would be against Gods Law. The Prince of Wales himself tries to convince him to compete, but the problem is not solved until Lindsay, an another(prenominal) piece of the team, offers his place in the four hundred meter race.However, this remains a steeply representative scene of Erics dilemma and a testimony of his faith. He is snap amongst his desire to run and his commitment to praise God on the one hand and amongst his future King and God on the other hand. Liddell is depicted as a true man of principle and a true athlete. H is speed is a absolute extension of his life, its force.In the Olympic Games each of the two athletes wins a gold medal. However, the meaning of his triumph is significantly distinct. As Harold Abrahams discovers before his most decisive race his life has become all well-nigh those few seconds in which he feels he has to dislodge anything he has done and who he will become I am forever in pursuit and I dont even recognise what is I am chasing. And even though he wins, he can not rejoice. He has not defeated his inner demons and he has not understood the meaning of his life.Eric Liddell, on the other hand, does not grant his colleagues singular reaction. He is ecstatic after his success, he feels he has reached his purpose as a sportsman and is ready to embrace his future life, of a missionary.1.2. The backingThe title is excite by And did those feet in ancient time, a pitiful poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem. Today it is outdo known as the hymn Jerusalem, whose music is written by Sir Hubert deflect in 1916.It seems that the films working title was Running. The inspiration came one Sunday even when Colin Welland (screenplay source) turned on the television to the BBCs religious music series Songs of value featuring the stirring hymn Jerusalem, its chorus including the speech Bring me my chariot of fire. the writer allegedly leapt up to his feet and shouted to his wife Patricia, Ive got it, Pat Chariots of Fire1.A church congregation sings Jerusalem at the end of the film and a performance come forths on the Chariots of Fire soundtrack performed by the Ambrosian Singers overlaid partly by a composition by Vangelis.2. Chariots of Fire film abridgmentOur analysis will focus on the two heroes, their leaders style and their interactions with the other characters. In order to amply understand Harold, we also need to take into account Sam Mussabini, because their activity and achievements are complementary.We will b egin with a unequal description of their personality based on the way the film depicts them and then we will observe their leadership styles.2.1. The character of Eric LiddellEric Liddell is a fully talented person, led by efforts for excellence in studies and sport. Being an academic, he belongs to one of the best schools of Scotland Eton College, Edinburgh University. he is also extremely talented in sports. He is initially very good at rugby, but gives up with it in order to releasely dedicate himself to running for the Olympic Games. He is called the flying Scotsman.He is extremely gifted and works very unexpressed to achieve his goals. Ive never seen such thrust, such commitment in a runner. He runs like a wild animal, says Harold Abrahams. He is more of a runner on long distances opposite to Abrahams, who is a sprinter. Hes fast. however he wont go any faster, not in the dash, anyway. Hes a wild sweet pea runner. Hes all heart. Digs deep, says Sam Mussabini.During a comp etition, he falls daterunning and still manages to win the race. Therefore, he achieves the to the postgraduateest degree impossible veterans, were hale in the opinion that Liddells win in the quarter mile was the greatest track performance that they had ever seen2.We also can notice that, scorn the fact he has no coach, he wins the Olympic 400 meter race. He has been able to provide the right efforts on his own and with the dish up of God.He is a man who lives for his faith. His parents are missionaries in China and are verystrictabout pietism. God is a loving dictator. His rules are such as attending the Sunday service, or not playing football on Sunday. Eric fully embraces this conception of theology.He feels that running and winning races will prove the world the presence of God. To win is an honor for Him. When I run, I feel his pleasure.Winning an Olympic Gold Medal becomes a priority, second only to his religion. The ambition to win this event is part of his religion is spiritual. Eric believed that everything he did in the name of his belief should give God pleasure. I would like to give you something more permanent but I can only point the way. I believe God made me for a purpose, he says after a race.After winning the Olympic medal, he follows his family and becomes himself a missionary in China, as he had planned from the beginning.He is an example of a person who lived out the Olympic ideals while upholding the Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius (used for the first time in 1924), which means, Swifter, Higher, Stronger, throughout his life.3Today, a foundation and an earnings site are dedicated to his memory.His conscience issue, his testimony of faithWhen he learns that the heats are to be run on a Sunday, he switches to the 400 meter competition. Running on Sunday is against Gods law. His decision is taken he will show inflexibility on this point. The Prince of Wales himself tries to influence him to change decision, but Eric says tha t although he loves his country, he is not ready for such a sacrifice. Lindsay is the one who suggests the solution. Having already won a silver medal, he yields his place on the 400 meter race, which takes place the next Tuesday.In this situation, Eric has proven to be extremely focused he wins and stands by his principles. It is a way to labor his religion, since his convictions make the head blood lines in all the newspapers Eric Liddell, God before the king.His kind with othersFor Abrahams, with whom he functions personal conversations, he holds a concentrated friendship. It is remarkable to notice that, although competition should be the master word in his field, he does not appear to be affected by this state of mind. He does his best to pull ahead friendship and loyalty.His sister Jennie is very worried about him being stolen by sports your mind is not with us anymore, it is full of running and starting and medals and pace. He is diplomatic and very overstuffed with her , tells him that he will go to China, but only after the Olympic Games. He tries to convince Jenny that he is an excellent runner and that it is Gods wish for him to do his best to win the games, because it is God who made him fast.Sandy, his close friend confesses Erics special to me. Precious. When Erics father goes back to China, he is asked to count after the family Im relying on you now to keep them all out of mischief. This is why he remains close to him he even follows him at the Olympic Games.An illustration of charismatic leadershipLeadership is described as the art of influencing others in the manner desired by the leader.4In this case, we believe that Eric has the natural talent to attract battalion around him without exercise authority. He gets his power from inside and does not need any winning of support or coach. It is a personality trait that he had from his birth, which makes him gift with special qualities. His father being a missionary, we presume that it is a family gene. He takes risks by involving himself in religious purposes. He is extremely confident in his faith he can therefore communicate strongly about it. This increases his leadership towards others as well as his charisma.He feels he is impelled by a divine mission to uphold God harbor his behavior in sports. He therefore takes every opportunity to preach the god news. He is skilled for public accosting and uses this talent very often he is an authority for those around him. He is passionate and shows a lot of determination in convincing others. At the end of a race, he does not hesitate to gather the crowd around him and speak about God. Under the rain, he is able to federate a bounteous group of people. He speaks their language, talks about their problems. People are highly receptive, some of them captivated.Open to others, he is able to mix with very different social classes. He is as well at ease with people from his high level College and people from the street who watch him racing. His modesty is only when genuine and unaffected.Eric Liddell possesses a outstanding emotional acquaintance5. He is self aware he is good at understanding what motivates him and how his actions or words affect others. For example, when he speaks to his sister Jenny who is worried about his strength towards sport, he finds the right argument and gains her support he will pursue the mission to China when the games are finished.He is motivated by something beyond money or status. He wants to win in the name of his religion and that is his drive.He is empathetic, since he preoccupies himself with what is on peoples mind. He is a role moulding for children. For example, at the end of a Sunday service, a young half-size girl asks him to sign on her Bible.Eric also has good social skills, as we can see many friends are around him. On the Sunday when he should have run, he is called to participate to Sunday mass at the Paris Church of Scotland. He is asked to read a p salm and it is a moment of deep emotion for the people listening to him.Being a leader, he also shows abilities of self management he entirely enjoys what he does and appears as someone very well balanced. He is erectting high objectives for himself, winning the games, and he visualizes his success.He is mature because he knows that the Olympic Games will only be a step in his life and that after, his mission will lead him to higher purposes. His vision of the future is realistic.He balances challenging work, studies and personal life very well since he achieves all his goals, by a good management of time and resources. Moreover, he is well coordinated in his social community and valued by many people around him. All these elements prove that he has the skills to self manage his life and his reach objectives very efficiently.We can observe that Erics followers are captivated, the pass is healthy and people oriented. By his behavior and his personality, he shows the necessary qua lities for a Spiritual Leader. His life after the film shows him even more stubborn on this point. Today, an internet site and a community exist and operate are regularly offered in his name, a proof that his leadership was strong enough to still be present today.2.2. The character of Harold AbrahamsHarold Abrahams is depicted as a strong and somewhat tormented personality. He descends from a family of Lithuanian Jews and his familys origins follow him everywhere, not only in his perception, but also in the attitude of others.His determination and his desire to be appreciated for what he really is as a person, and not to be judged upon his ascendants, is evident from the very first scenes of the film. For example, as he arrives his first day at Cambridge, where he studies law, he feels obliged to correct the porters, who address him using the word laddie. In response, Abrahams mentions I ceased to be a laddie when I took up the Kings commission.Harold is an excellent athlete, a gr eat runner, and the first challenge he takes is to run the collage dash. He is the first student in all the 700 years of the college to attempt to run the whole perimeter of the court surrounded by the first and the last strike of 12. He is competitive, determined and extremely self confident when he runs.We learn however that his need to be valued and respected comes from his sense of substandardity. He feels rejected in the English society because he is Jewish. The confession he makes to Aubrey is particularly relevantIts an ache, a helplessness and an anger. One feels humiliated. Sometimes I say to myself, Steady on, youre imagining all this. Then I catch that look again. Catch it on the edge of a remark. Feel a iciness reluctance in a handshake. Thats my father. A Lithuanian Jew. He is alien . I love and admire him. He worships this country. From nothing, he built what he believed was enough to make true Englishmen of his sons. My brothers a doctor. A leader in his field . A nd here am I. Setting up shop in the finest university in the land. But the old man forgot one thing. This England of his is Christian and Anglo-Saxon. And so are her corridors of power. And those who stalk them guard them with jealousy and venom.Youre right to study law. Youre sort of an advocate.A rare ethnic advantage. Its called the gift of the gab.So what now? grinning and bear it?No, Aubrey. Im going to take them on. All of them. One by one. And run them off their feet.In order to be the best, Harold Abrahams does something unusual and revolutionary for his time he hires a professional coach, Sam Mussabini. The latter is reluctant to this demand, because it was ordinarily him who made the proposition. Nevertheless, Harolds argument convinces him to observe and then acknowledge his talent I can run fast. With your help, I suppose I can run even faster. Perhaps faster than any man ever ran. I want that Olympic medal. Now, I can see it there. Its waiting for me. But I cant ge t it on my own.During the few moments when Harold is shown with his friends, he seems beat and gregarious, a good company. There is a clear contrast in comparison to his moments of solitude, when his more fragile side of his personality appears. This is why we speak of inner demons, of the duality he faces he is eager for others to like and appreciate him, but seems incapable to do that for himself. He denies his true essence, his origins, he doubts himself at the smallest failure.His life becomes even more complex when he meets Sybil Gordon, a singer who becomes his girlfriend, his confident and his supporter. She stands by him during his hardest moment of fear and uncertainty when Eric Liddell defeats him. It is the moment when Harold expresses his compulsion for winning. He cannot conceive to run if he does not win. His thrill does not come from sports, from racing it comes from winning, being the best. This is why a defeat is unconceivable, unbearable. His salvation, his drive to move on and aim for the Olympic gold does not come from love, nevertheless, but from the one who had refused him. Sam Mussabini is the one who comes at the end of the race and promises to find him another two yards.Mussabini is truly the person Abrahams needed to brace up his performance. His entire perception of life changes when the coach agrees to train him. Everything else falls into second place, including his girlfriend. He no longer has an amateur view over sports, but a more professional one. He understands that result can only come out of hard work and sweat. Together, they analyze other top athletes, their technique and their mistakes. Then they practice, improve Harolds performance and aim for the eventual(prenominal) goal the Olympic medal.Due to his use of a professional coach, Harold is impeach of is professors at Cambridge of mercantilism, of desiring to win at all costs. In fact, in the 1920s, athletics were regarded as an emanation of talent, not of herd train ing. The masters plead for an amateur approach and consider that Abrahams attitude prejudices the name of their school Here in Cambridge, weve always been proud of our athletic prowess. We believe, weve always believed, that our games are indispensable in helping to complete the education of an Englishman. They create character. They foster courage, honesty and leadership but, most of all, an unassailable spirit of loyalty, comradeship and mutual responsibility . Im afraid(predicate) there is a growing suspicion in the bosom of this university that in your enthusiasm for success you have perhaps lost sight of some of these ideals.Harolds reaction to these accusations reveals his innovative way of thinking. He is a visionary who has set his goals and will stop at nothing to achieve them. He is pull and ready to do everything humanly possible to succeed. He believes in himself and uses every resource available. A personal coach is one of them. I believe in the pursuit of excellence and naughtily carry the future with me, he says leaving the masters office, only to find out shortly after that he has been selected to be part of the team for the 8th Olympic Games, held in Paris.Abrahams channels all his energy to attain his life dream. He strives for the medal and for recognition. From this point of view, he and Mussabini are very similar. The former is e Jew who feels inferior and therefore uses sports to prove that he belongs in the upper English society. The latter is half Italian, half Arab and is ostracized because he brings a professional approach to sports in an era when it was predominantly amateur. He becomes not only Harolds coach, but his mentor. They complete each other in their desire for glory and they need one another, because none of them can succeed on their own.A discussion between Sybil and Andy, a mutual friend, is extremely eloquent when it comes to Harolds commitmentHe says he needs to clear his mind of me. He cant love me and say that.Syb , the worlds against him, or so he believes. Now hes got a chance to prove himself. He cant see or hear anything beyond that, not even you. The fastest man ever before . Thats immortality. Just think what it means to a man like Harold. Well, to me the whole things fun. I dont need that. Cast care aside and all that. But for Harold, its a reckon of life and death.In Paris, his competitors are two living legends, members of the American team Paddock and Scholz. Harold suffers several defeats in the beginning of the Olympics and therefore questions his puissantness to ever reach his objective. He questions himself and everything he stands for. Before his most important race, he confesses to his frind Contentment. Im 24 and Ive never known it. Im forever in pursuit and I dont even know what it is Im chasing. Aubrey, old chap, Im scared. Sam and I, weve labored, rowed and bullied for this. Day in, day out. Youve seen us, chuckled over us, Ill be bound. Out in all weathers. Madmen. And for what? I was beaten out of sight in the 200. Then I let Paddock trick me in the semi. Now, in one hours time, Ill be out there again. Ill raise my eyes and look down that corridor, four-feet wide, with ten lonely seconds to justify my whole foundation. But will I? Aubrey, Ive known the fear of losing. But now Im almost too frightened to win.Before the 100-meter dash Harold has almost overcome his fear of losing, but faces the fear of winning. He feels that his whole existence depends on that one race, which he might either win and offer him a long-desired status or lose and render him into obscurity. In accompaniment to his own dilemma, he receives a letter from Mussabini, relative him that he would not assist at the race, but that he wishes him all the best. He also offers him his fathers charm.He runs the 100 meters in 10.6 seconds and wins the gold medal. However, he can not celebrate his success. He seeks refuge in a bistro where he drinks with Mussabini. He does not want to party with his team.Yes, youve always thought of yourself as a ruthless man. Hard. Bit of a loner, like me. But actually, youre as soft as a limp pocket. Oh, you care. Care about things that really matter. If you didnt, I wouldnt have come within a mile of you. Do you know who you won for out there today?Hmm?Us You and old Sam Mussabini. Ive waited 30 bloody years for this . Harold It means the world to me, this, you know. Because weve had, today you and me, and weve got it for keeps.Harold has an illogical, ill-judged reaction. One possible explanation is that he does not want to share this moment with those who might not have believed in him and in his method acting that he wanted to savor his achievement all by himself. other possible explanation is that he realizes that despite his medal, he is the same person. He is still Jewish and he would still have to face the same problems.Is Harold Abrahams a leader? What kind of leader might he be?Harold Abrahams is an outsider at these Olympics. He is passionate about what he does and he takes it to perfection. He has the vision of success and he sets his own goals extremely high goals. He believes in himself and seeks to overcome his flaws. He is also looking at the future, knowing exactly what he wants to achieve. The only thing that he has not figured out is what he will do once he achieves everything. And this is exactly why he can not rejoice when he wins the gold medal.This is why he is not a leader in the true sense of the word. He does, however, manifest some kind of auto-leadership. He manages himself, he determines his objectives and he identifies his resources. He is extremely self-aware, realistic and down to earth. The fact that he acknowledges the fact that he needs a coach is essential.In a way, we would say that he seeks a leader, a mentor and a motivator. And he convinces Mussabini, the best in his field, to be that leader for him. If we had to integrate their relationship in a leadership mo del, it would be the cognitive resources theory and the transactional leadership. Mussabinis intelligence and experience are the resources that lead to performance. His directivity is exactly what Harold needs he requires guidance.From a transactional point of view, we could say that there is a contract between the two and that the ultimate task is to win. Harold has every interest to follow his leader, because he is the best and he cannot succeed without him. This is why the contingent reward conduct is well adapted in this situation, with the mention that the motivation is intrinsic. And this is exactly what permits them to excel.Harold is a mature follower, both in terms of job and psychological adulthood (according to Hersey and Blanchards Situational Leadership Model). Therefore, Mussabinis directive pattern of behaviour (similar to Fielders task-oriented behaviour) works efficiently in their relationship he is a teller.Transformational leadership is a process that changes and transforms individuals. It often involves long term goals6. We believe that focusing on the process, the interaction between the two does not exclude the transactional point of view. We therefore consider that Mussabini helps Abrahams reach his full potential. They each have a vision, they are both inspired by their own motivation and they have to work together to achieve their goals. From a certain point of view, they render each other a service.2.3. The character of Sam MussabiniSam Mussabini is Harolds coach. He first appears in the film at a race opposing France and Scotland. He has a short conversation with Colonel John Keddie, President of the Scottish Amateur Athletes Association, and we understand that from his point of view he is a persona non grata they do not share the same vision on sports. This is why when the Colonel says we do have a strict amateur code he replies that he is a mere spectator.Harold Abrahams is in the public as well and takes the opportunity to talk t o him about his need to be coached by him. He wants to improve in order to be able to win the gold medal. Mr Mussabini first refuses, telling him that he should be the one to choose whether to coach him or not its the coach that should do the asking. Still, he promises that he would observe him and see if he is talented and capable or not to deserve his attention.They meet again at another race, which opposes Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. The latter loses and this defeat in unbearable for him. He questions his ability to be a great runner, he is desperate and depressed. This is the moment when Mussabini appears, telling him I can find you another two yards. A line that is decisive for the rest of the film.They start training together giving Harold the technique he needed to progresses. He has innovative pedagogical methods, consisting of showing him photos of other runners and analyzing why they win or fail, what they do right and what they do wrong. Abrahams strides are shorten ed, putting more poise into his running. He acquires a more powerful start and learns to concentrate on his dip at the finish.Mussabini understands the psychology of his student, what drives him a short sprint is run on nerves. Its tailor-made for neurotics. He realizes that Harold is a good sprinter and that he is pushed by his nerves. He says