Amar Chebib’s captivating new documentary, The Runner, follows Darius Sam, an Indigenous 19-year-old living in British Columbia.
After losing a family member to addiction, Sam resolved to run 100 miles at once in subzero temperatures to raise awareness for addiction and mental health issues.
The documentary, released through The New Yorker on Indigenous People’s Day today, follows Sam’s monumental journey and personal transformation as he attempts this seemingly impossible task.
Chebib said of the film, “I first heard about Darius only two weeks before his planned December run. Upon reaching out to him, we immediately connected and have since developed a close friendship based on love, trust, and respect. I am unendingly inspired by Darius’ sensitivity and resilience at such a young age. Making this film has been an emotionally transformative experience and I am grateful to be able to share it with you now. My hope is that people, particularly young men who might be less drawn to mental health conversations, are drawn to Darius’ story and inspired to take care of their own well-being while striving to be the best versions of themselves.“
The film features 5 Marmoset tracks, including:
- Sunrise (60) (Instrumental) by Graham Barton
- An Ancient Dark Cavern (Instrumental) by Kyle Preston
- A Response To Death (Instrumental) by Kyle Preston
- November Snow (Instrumental) by Keen Collective
- Runner (Instrumental) by Raging Moses
To learn more about Amar Chebib and see some of his other work, check out our filmmaker profile on Amar here.