When it comes to world-class marathon runners, Kenyans are considered the cream of the crop. But some of Kenya’s top runners aren’t running for fame and fortune. Some are wanted warriors, running for their lives.
For years, Julius Arile and Robert Matanda thrive among the bands of warriors that terrorize the North Kenyan countryside. Stealing cattle, raiding and running from the police is the only life they know. So when both warriors suddenly disappear from the bush, many assume they are dead or have been arrested. Instead, they trade in their rifles for sneakers—in the hopes of making it big as professional marathon runners.
Years of fleeing from the police have prepared the men for running marathon distances, but do they have what it takes to overcome the corruption, mistrust and jealousy that threaten to derail their careers? Told entirely by its central characters, Gun Runners is the American Dream, Kenyan-style.
When it comes to world-class marathon runners, Kenyans are considered the cream of the crop. Particularly those from Kenya’s Rift Valley. These athletes have won marathons in London, New York and Berlin, and have set countless world records. But some of Kenya’s top runners aren’t running for fame and fortune. Some are wanted warriors, running for their lives.
For years, Julius Arile and Robert Matanda thrive among the roaming bands of warriors that terrorize the North Kenyan countryside. By the time they reach their mid-twenties, stealing cattle, raiding and running from the police is the only life they know. Despite the harsh conditions, life in the bush has its obvious appeals. Wielding a semi-automatic weapon provides power and respect. A ready supply of cattle also guarantees a steady source of income.
So when both warriors suddenly disappear from the bush, many of their peers assume they are dead or have been arrested. Instead, they trade in their rifles for sneakers—in the hopes of making it big as professional marathon runners.
Arile is the first to accept the government’s offer of amnesty and free running shoes in exchange for his gun. Determined to make a fresh start, he enters champion runner Tegla Loroupe’s Peace Race, which offers warriors a chance to win cattle and cash prizes. Arile easily wins the race and starts to dream of a future in running.
Arile soon calls Matanda and tries to convince him to leave the bush as well. But Matanda is riddled with doubt. Worried it’s a trap, he fears ending up in prison or being seen as a traitor. He also fears losing the power he enjoys as a warrior. Nonetheless, Matanda reluctantly hands over his guns, boasting that running marathons will be a walk in the park after years of running from the law.
Matanda and Arile’s careers start on very different notes, however, and their lifelong friendship soon shows signs of strain. Fresh from his Peace Race win, Arile is asked to be the face of the One Million Faces petition against gun violence. He heads to New York, where he addresses the United Nations and Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Arile also sweeps the 5K Run Until Violence Stops race. Now the centre of global media attention, Arile gets an early taste of fame. Matanda, meanwhile, jealously watches from the sidelines in Kenya and can’t help reminiscing about his gun-wielding days in the bush.
Back at the Tegla Loroupe training camp, tension between the two friends grows. Matanda struggles with the highly regimented training schedule, while Arile shines and quickly moves on to Eldoret and Iten to train with the world’s best. He is soon picked up by an American elite manager from the US who sees a string of international podiums in his future. But a series of disappointing performances leaves Arile with nothing to show but an increasingly problematic knee. Growing pressure from his family to bring home more than empty promises further undermines his resolve to keep up with the gruelling training regimen.
Matanda wages his own internal battle. He’s determined to send his children to private boarding school so that they can lead better lives. But he also dreams of being more than just a farmer. Lured by the promise of power and convinced that he is the right man to finally put an end to decades of inter-village conflict, Matanda makes a risky foray into politics.
Years of fleeing from the police have prepared the men for running marathon distances, but do they have what it takes to overcome the corruption, mistrust and jealousy that threaten to derail their careers? Or will they give up on their dreams and return to a life of easy power and money?
A NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA Production
In Memory of Arile’s mother
MARY CHEPUSTAR LOMERINYANG’
Written and Directed by
ANJALI NAYAR
Featuring
JULIUS ARILE LOMERINYANG’
ROBERT MATANDA WAFULA
Director of Photography
JOAN POGGIO
Editor
ANDREW MACCORMACK
Music Composed & Conducted by
DARREN FUNG
Sound Design and Editing
BENOIT DAME
CATHERINE VAN DER DONCKT
Associate Producers
DEBRA NJERI NGERU
and
JON MONTES
MYLÈNE AUGUSTIN
Story Consultant
BINYAVANGA WAINAINA
Participants
ZANE BRANSON
JOSHUA CHESIRE
JEROEN DEEN
STELLA EBEI
ANJALI KHWATENGE
KIBOR LELEI
MARY CHEPUSTAR LOMERINYANG’
SAMSON ARILE LOMERINYANG’
EDWIN LIMO
ELIZA LOPILALE
TEGLA LOROUPE
MURGOR MAKALE
ESTHER MBONDO
COLLINS MUBAYA
ISAAC MWANGI NJOROGE
TONI REAVIS
JANE ROSE WAFULA
DOUGLAS WAFULA
TONY WAFULA
NOAH WEKESA
BENJAMIN YOTA
Consultants
CYNTHIA KNIGHT
LYNN TROUT
HANNELE HALM
ARI VAN ASSCHE
MANFRED BECKER
GERRY FLAHIVE
SHANDI MITCHELL
GEETA SONDHI
Sound Recordists
ANJALI NAYAR
DAVID JALENGA
RICHARD NGUGI
LAURA CUNNINGHAM
PETR STÝBLO
MARK KIHARA
CATHERINE VAN DER DONCKT
Additional Camera
ANJALI NAYAR
RYAN DE FRANCO
SAM HEESEN
JEFFREY WHITEHURST
Assistant Editors
CHRISTOPHER MACINTOSH
and
DAVID MULLINS
Recreations
First Assistant Director
ELIZABETH ‘KYM’ KARIUKI
Line Producer
CAROLINE HELLEN NGESA
Gaffers
RICHARD OTIENO OWINO
TONY OTIENO
Still Photography
ANJALI NAYAR (KENYA)
PIOTR REDLINSKI (NYC)
GEORGINA GOODWIN (KENYA)
TOBIN JONES (KENYA)
Production Assistant
EMILY WANJA
Catering
PRINCE OF PEACE CATERING
Drivers
PETER NJONDE
AMOS CHEGE
JOHN N. KIMANI
Senior Production Coordinator
ISABELLE LIMOGES
Production Coordinator
CHRISTINE WILLIAMS
Program Administrator
LESLIE ANNE POYNTZ
Business Affairs
DOMINIQUE AUBRY
STÉPHANIE L’ÉCUYER
JEAN-CLAUDE WASIK
Featuring:
JULIUS ARILE LOMERINYANG’
ROBERT MATANDA WAFULA
and
EVERLINE ABRAHAM
MOLMOI ACHEMWE
REGINA ACHIL
PAMELA ARISOMUK
SEROMK ATURI
NABA CHABAGI
NYERENG’EI CHEMEL
DORIS CHEPCHUMBA
JOSEPHINE CHEPKOMAE
RODA CHEPKORIR
EUNICE CHEROP
SHARON CHEROP
FLOMENA CHEYECH DANIEL
AKIRA CHUBAGWA
DOMO CHUPANG’OLE
NOAH EVAR
LOMERTUMBO JOSEPH
MIKE KASITIT
ELIJA KEMAGET
TENAICHA KHORIA
EDNA KIPLAGAT
ASBEL KIPROP
WILSON KIPSANG
JOEL KIPTOO
BUSIE KODO
LEAH KUSAR
JOSPHAT LAKONG’
SELINA LEMERI
SELINA LENGIRODOW
EDWIN LIMO
TONY LINGANGOI
SUSAN LOCHIMWA
LOLEMTOINE LOCHIPA
NAMAUA LODAU
SEIYA LOEMERES
LOTODO LOITARU
LOKAPE LOKOPET
POKORE LOKUR
ACHOMODOI LOLES
MOSES LOLUK
SAMSON ARILE LOMERINYANG’
SOLOMON ARILE LOMERINYANG’
MONICA LOMUKET
SAMSON LONG’AR
MONICA LONGIRO
GLADYS LONGIRO
KRISTINE LONGIRODOR
TODONG’ORIA LONG’IRO
NOLEKONG’ LOPETANDRO
JOSEPH LOPEYOKH
LOPAUKO LOPRANGIRO
DORCAS LORENG’
KO LOROMWAS
DOMA LOSENYANG’
LOKEMER LOTION
STEVEN LOTIRE
SELINA LONYANAT
DOMONYO LONYANGAT
KRISTINE LONYOMONGON
TAOUFIK MAKHLOUFI
OPAUA MAPRENDRU
PAU MERINYANY
PIUS MNANG’AT
GIDEON MOGAKA
JOHN MORES
THOMAS MUKE
LOLIAMA NATORO
MILKA NATURO
LOSEWARENG’ NG’OLETEVA
DOMONTANG NG’ORIALIMA
PETER NJONDE
RODA NYANGIRI
NASAWAMONG NYANGRO
RAEL NYOLETEPA
NG’OLANGURA ORAGEDI
PEUWA ORIANA
LOTHIA ORINGA
AKWUCH PALIAPOS
NYAKALES ROSENYANG’
EVANS ROTICH
LODOW ROSOUEN
BENSON RUTO
EMMANUEL SAMAL
REUBEN SAMORI
CHEPAKASOKOM SIAKOT
LONG’IRO TODONG’URA
KEVIN YEKO
POSTPRODUCTION
Head of Coordination & Project Support
PIERRE FERLATTE
Post-Production Supervisor
ROSLYN POWER
Technical Coordinators
JEAN-FRANÇOIS LAPRISE
CHRISTOPHER MACINTOSH
STEVE HALLÉ
Digital Editing Technicians
PIERRE DUPONT
ISABELLE PAINCHAUD
PATRICK TRAHAN
Online Editor
DENIS PILON
Graphic Design and Titles
MÉLANIE BOUCHARD
CYNTHIA OUELLETTE
Subtitles
ROBERT GRAY, KINOGRAPH
DORIANE BENZAKEIN, KINOGRAPH
Musicians
Guitar
NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI
Piano
BENJAMIN KWONG
Cello
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LIZOTTE
Bass
BEN COMEAU
Drums
MARK NELSON
Associate Music Producer and Orchestration
VINCENT L. PRATTE
Music Technical Preparation
HARRISON LEE
Music Recordist and Mixer
GEOFFREY MITCHELL
Music Production Assistant
VINCENT LEFEBVRE
Assistant Music Recordist and Editor
TIM GOWDY
Re-recording Mixer
JEAN-PAUL VIALARD
Foley Artist
STÉPHANE CADOTTE
Foley Assistant
SYLVAIN ROBILLARD
Foley Recording
LUC LÉGER
Music
BRING BACK REAL REGGAE MUSIC
Courtesy of ANDRU BRANCH
©2000 Constant Spring Music and Publishing
Recorded at KINGSTON MUZIK STUDIO, KINGSTON, JAMAICA
JAZZ MIX 1 FRANK’S PLACE
SOUNDS INCREDIBLE PUBLISHING (SOCAN)
JASON NYBERG (BMI)
©2013 Sound Ideas
LIES I TOLD ME
Courtesy of PRISCA OJWANG’
Written, performed and produced by PRISCA OJWANG’
©2014 Prisca Ojwang’
S.O.S.
Courtesy of DELHI 2 DUBLIN MUSIC
Written and Performed by DELHI 2 DUBLIN
©2010 Delhi 2 Music
Additional Music Research
COLIN MACKENZIE
Translators
Swahili
DEBRA NJERI NGERU
WHITNEY NERIMA
EVELYN KAHUNGU
Pokot
HARON KOLEM
FRANCIS TULIAMUK
Luhya
KEVIN MAFUMBO
French
ROBERT GRAY, KINOGRAPH
DORIANE BENZAKEIN, KINOGRAPH
Transcription
WHITNEY NERIMA
DEBRA NJERI NGERU
ERIN OAKES
Archives Research
DEBRA NJERI NGERU
Rights Clearance
NANCY MARCOTTE
Visual Archives
ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE PROVIDED COURTESY OF ANJALI NAYAR
FOOTAGE IS COURTESY OF AL JAZEERA
AXIOM IMAGES, INC.
CAMERAPIX LTD.
CHRIS RHYS HOWARTH
CITIZEN, ROYAL MEDIA SERVICES
CZECH TV/PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON
EYE DESIGN LTD.
ERIC HALLARD
FRAMEPOOL
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE
JOHN SAMUEL SMITH HEESEN
MEDIA DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (MEDEVA)
MICHEL LAPLACE-TOULOUSE
NATION MEDIA GROUP LTD.
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
NFB ARCHIVES
OXFAM GB
SHUTTERSTOCK INC.
TEGLA LOROUPE FOUNDATION
THE STANDARD GROUP LIMITED
THE UNITED NATIONS
The filmmakers would like to thank:
JULIUS ARILE & FAMILY
ROBERT MATANDA & FAMILY
THE NAYAR & CROCKER FAMILIES
ZANE BRANSON &
THE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS CONSULTANCY
TOBY TANSER & SHOE 4 AFRICA
THE STAFF OF NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS AND ING
GEORGE HIRSCH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, NYRR
MARY WHITTENBERG, PAST PRESIDENT AND CEO, NYRR
MICHAEL CAPIRASO, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NYRR
CARLO CAPALBO & RUNCZECH
JAN CVACHOVEC
JEROEN DEEN
LEA TIERNAN
JUDY KIBINGE
JACKIE IMALI
MICHELLE VAN BEUSEKOM
TOBIN JONES
SRUTHI PINNAMANENI & FAMILY
PAMELA THORNTON
DENIS MCCREADY
MÜMBI KAIGWA
OTIENO ALOKA
RAILA ODINGA
HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION, PATRICK BIGOLD
ALAN BROOKES, RACE DIRECTOR
AND THE STAFF OF CANADA RUNNING SERIES & SCOTIABANK TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON
In Memory of
ZANE BRANSON
and
JOSEPH “APELOYAPUS” LOPEYOKH
and
RYO MURAKAMI
Marketing Manager
FRANÇOIS JACQUES
Publicist
PATRICIA DILLON-MOORE
Producers
ANNETTE CLARKE
KAT BAULU
Executive Producers
ANNETTE CLARKE
RAVIDA DIN