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By Tan Yan Jun
‘The Flying Scotsman’ is an amazing film based on the true story of Scottish cycling legend, Graeme Obree. He was a hero who awed the whole nation by breaking the world’s one-hour cycling record on a self-made bicycle using old parts of washing machines. However, the record lasted for less than a week, the title being snatched away by his longtime cycling rival, Englishman Chris Boardman. In addition, Obree also did not have large-scale sponsorship and development support, unlike other professional cyclists. Despite all that, he did not give up and continued to strive for better performances.
The film also illustrated his unhappy childhood. He was often bullied and ostracized by his friends just because he had a father who was a policeman. Moreover, he constantly struggled over his bi-polar disorder – a manic-depressive illness.
Johnny Lee Miller, who starred as Graeme Obree, gave one of his best performances in this movie. His intense and evocative expressions, especially during the haunting depression scenes, fully portrayed the painful dark sides of Obree. There were also some light comical touches to the film, adding bits of humour to this emotionally-gripping film.
A fabulous and remarkable film that teaches us not to give up when facing adversity, and most importantly, never to underestimate the strength and ability of oneself, The Flying Scotsman is an unbelievably moving story, one that touches your heart deeply.
If you missed The Flying Scotsman in cinemas, remember to catch it on DVD.