The Runner

Author: Evan (NY)


“The Runner”


Written by: Cynthia Voigt

Directed by: Jay Russell


Cast:

Bullet Tillerman – Adam Butcher

Tamer Shipp – Dominic Daniel

David Tillerman – Jeff Daniels

Mona Tillerman – Alberta Watson

Patrice – Karl Urban


Tagline: “in a time of protest, one boy ran.”


Synopsis:
Bullet Tillerman ran. He ran to get away from the harsh realities of histeenage existence. Bullet was a loner in a time of young rebellion. It’s1967, and Bullet Tillerman is running for himself.



Bullet is only a nickname though. His actual name is Samuel Tillerman. Buthis nickname came from his talents as a cross-country runner. Bullet wasthe number one runner in the state of Maryland, even though he went to abadly funded school in the middle of nowhere. As a runner, Bullet wasextraordinary. But as a member of the team, he was far less thanexemplary. Bullet didn’t run for the glory, or the awards and praise, heran for himself. He ran to not get “boxed in” by his father. He ran to bein complete control of his life.



He ran every chance he got; it was the only way he could think straight.He didn’t have any friends, as he was often distant and brooding, so healways ran alone. He ran to escape the house that his father David ruledwith an Iron fist, and to get away from his mother, who angered him withher weakness and submissiveness. He ran to forget that his father haddriven his two older siblings from the house. On his free time he workedon a boat with a cheery man named Patrice. They went out crabbing, andclamming.



At school, Bullet didn’t speak up in class, and made sure never to attachhimself too strongly to one specific group of students, so that theywouldn’t interpret his actions as an invitation for friendship. When hisschool is integrated, Bullet at first only observes the tension betweenthe whites and black, as he himself believes they’re to be fundamentaldifferences between the two races. But when his coach asks him to make tocoach a new black runner, Tamer Shipp, Bullet’s views overtake him, and hequits the team, thinking it bad to mix whites and blacks.As the student protests against the Vietnam War heat up, Bullet staysdetermined to be uninvolved with the rioting, devoting even more time tocrabbing with Patrice. But when Bullet tells Patrice why he quit the trackteam, he learns a valuable lesson about making assumptions. Patrice admitsto himself being 1/8th black.



With his mind whirling, Bullet begins to run again, and it feels good. Herejoins the team and agrees to coach the conceited, proud Tamer. Theobvious tension between them, over time, turns to something resemblingfriendship, and when they both realize this, their prejudices begin tosubside. While the school still quietly wars, the two runners workedtogether, to try and make their team successful.As soon as he turned 18, Bullet joined the army and went to Vietnam. Itwas his way of running for one last time. He had to escape his father, andhe had to make his mother brave. He had to run towards his fate, weatherit was good or bad. And Bullet Tillerman liked that.


What the press would say:

In his introspective, and small film, Jay Russell takes the audience on ajourney. “The Runner” is an incredible film about a boy’s journey towardsmaturity as he struggles with the conflicting ideas and ideals thatconstruct his world. It studies weather one person can remain an entirelyseparate entity, or, if by being born, one must become a member ofhumanity. These themes and more are prevalent through out the film, whichis a story about a 17-year-old boy, who is trying to escape his family,and remain his own person in Vietnam era Maryland. “The Runner” is basedoff of Cynthia Voigt’s 1985 novel, and boasts a mostly unknown, but highlytalented cast. On his first Dramatic lead, Adam Butcher gives a heartstopping performance as a boy who just wants to get away. Alberta Watsonalso gives a phenomenal performance as his mother, who is overshadowedpermanently by Bullet’s father. Wonderfully directed and filled withbeautifully done lighting and sweeping cinematography, “The Runner” is oneof the years finest little gems.


FYC:

Best Picture

Best Director – Jay Russell
Best Actor – Adam Butcher

Best Supporting Actress – Alberta Watson

Best Supporting Actor – Karl Urban

Best Supporting Actor – Dominic Daniel

Best Supporting Actor – Jeff Daniels