Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

This is a kind of Arnolds Schwarzeneggers Pumping Iron..The Swedish Version! If you are into sports this is a very inspiring movie. It captures the spirit of the fight to be the best u can be. I go to the gym 5 times a week and compete in Bodybuilding and I got a new kick from this one. No training movie I've seen has inspired me like this one. This movie captures the depth of Ricky Bruch's mind and gives u taste of what lives top athletes live. When you are at the top of your sport its not a hobby, its a lifestyle and nobody illustrates this better than the Swedish Bear Ricky Bruch. This movie isn't fancy, its just plain and simple Blood and Guts. Go Ricky!

I had seen this film at John Powell's throwing camp in 1998 and almost had a sleepless night thinking about how the film inspired me to want to try to beat the world record in discus and, overall, think about my life. It is more than just a film about Ricky Bruch training for the 1984 Olympics, but instead is a very philosophical film. The middle of the film with John Powell is something I could watch over and over again. The film is a bit grainy with it's English subtitles(spoken in Swedish), but the story is intriguing and the simple but effective background music is also very enchanting. A rare but worthwhile film overall, and a well-needed one for the often ignored track athlete in the world of sports movies.