The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a 1962 British film directed by Tony Richardson and based on the short story of the same name by Alan Sillitoe. The film follows the story of Colin Smith, a young boy from a poor working-class family who is sent to a reformatory after robbing a bakery. Colin has a natural talent for long-distance running, which he discovers during his time at the institution.
As he rises through the ranks of the reformatory, he becomes the prize runner for the Governor's Cup, with the promise of early release if he wins. However, as he runs alone on the long and desolate countryside roads, memories of his past begin to haunt him. He reflects on his family's poverty, his mother's alcoholism, and his father's inability to provide for the family.
Through his running, Colin finds a sense of freedom and escape from the monotony of his institutionalized life. However, he also realizes that his talent is being exploited for the benefit of those in power, rather than for his own betterment. As the race approaches, Colin must decide whether to use his running as a means to escape the reformatory or to make a statement against the injustice he sees around him.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores themes of class, poverty, oppression, and rebellion. It features a standout performance from Tom Courtenay as Colin Smith, earning him critical acclaim and establishing him as a rising star in British cinema. The film is considered a classic of the British New Wave movement and remains relevant today as a meditation on the struggles of young people from working-class backgrounds.