For spectators, cyclists in the back of the race are simply the losers. They are called water carriers, domestics, gregarios, and Sancho Panzas of professional cycling. Moreover, they have no right to personal victories – these sportsmen sacrifice their careers to help their teammates.
We follow the magnificent world of the race from the point of view of the doctors’ team situated in a claustrophobically small medical car surrounded with wounded cyclists. The life of the medical team in race reminds one on the frontline of war. Cyclists crash, rise and race again. And amongst this fight, many magnificent things happen.
This film-odyssey reveals the untold world of the wonderful losers, true warriors, knights and monks of professional cycling.
More than a documentary about cyclists, it is an aesthetic pearl, the queen of gems, that elevates bicycle racing to the heights of martyrdom. - Olivier Haralambon, L'EQUIPE Magazine
Arūnas Matelis is a Lithuanian documentary director. He studied Mathematics at Vilnius University and in 1989 graduated from the Lithuanian Music Academy. He founded Nominum in 1992, one of the first independent film production companies in Lithuania.
Directed by Arūnas Matelis
Writer - Arūnas Matelis
Editor - Mirjam Jegorov
Dop - Mark Olexa, Vincent O'Callaghan, Valdis Celmins, Simone Rivoire, Paolo Beniti, Ivars Zviedris, Giordano Bianchi, Giacomo Becherini, Audrius Kemeys, Arūnas Matelis
Sound Design - Raf Enckels
Music - Alberto R Lucendo
Warsaw Film Festival (PL) - Best Documentary Feature
Minsk International Film Festival Listapad (BY) - Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film, Audience Award for the Best Documentary Film
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (EE)
Trieste Film Festival (IT) – Best Documentary 2018Lithuanian Filmmakers Union Award – Best Lithuanian Film 2017
National Lithuanian Film Awards – Best Documentary, Best Composer, People’s Choice 2018
Baltijos Banga International Film Festival – Audience Award 2018
Ulju Mountain Film Festival – Best “Exploration & Adventure” Film 2018
Kendal Mountain Film Festival – Special Jury Prize 2018Bilbao Mendi Film Festival – Best Director 2018
Chicago Eu Film Festival – Special Mention 2019
Vilnius St. Christopher Award 2019
Sport Movies & Tv Milano International Ficts Fest – Honourable Mention 2019
International Sports Film Festival Krasnogorski – Best Director 2019
Nordic Adventure Film Festival – Grand Fondo Film Of The Year 2019
Sheffield Adventure Film Festival – Gold Award Best Bike Film 2020
Duration: 71'
Co-produced with Nominum (LT), Ste Film (IT), DOKMobile (CH), VFS Films (LV), Dearcan Media (N-EIR/UK), Planet Korda Pictures (EIR), SUICA Films (ES), Kino Kontora (LV)
Supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF)
With the support of the Tax Shelter System of the Belgian Federal Government
Language: Italian
Subtitles: English, Dutch, French