This section spotlights DVD's that tell the inspirational stories of people that have pushed the limits of physical endurance. It includes movies that show the journeys of those that attempt the hardest footraces on the planet, and strive to climb the highest mountains. It also features movies that show how dedication and commitment to achieving a goal, can change the lives of inner city teens, and the success a team can achieve when they work together.
We believe in the importance of supporting environmental and humanitarian causes, and will donate 50 cents per item purchased on this page to CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION
PROFILING HURT This movie follows the path of ultrarunner Mark Gilligan and his friend and antagonist Scott Guild. Together the two of them take you on 4:00 AM, 40-mile morning runs, 45-story corporate workouts, 20-mile redwood weekend jogs, and then deep into the sections and segments of the HURT 100 course that give it its name. You see the preparation, feel the physical challenge, and taste the mental angst that only HURT can bring out. Watch as they join the rest of the runners in the struggle to make the cutoff time and find the finish line. Follow the count down, meet the faces, hear the strategy, and go deep into the heart of the course, to see what it means to run the HURT 100. Production Studio - BTV Productions $ 20.00
RUNNING AMERICA On September 13, 2008, Running The Sahara's Charlie Engle teamed up with Ultra-Marathoner Marshall Ulrich for his next expedition to press the human physical and mental strengths to their limits. This time the challenge was 3,063 miles in 46 days, starting in San Francisco and running to Times Square in New York. To accomplish this record breaking milestone, the runners would have to average close to SEVENTY miles each day. The film shows breathtaking running footage across the US, and the humanizing emotions that the two runners experienced during one of the most defining and difficult years in American history. Production Studio - NEHST Creations $ 19.95
RUNNING THE SAHARA This powerful and inspirational film is narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll. It chronicles an attempt by three ultra marathoners to run across the entire length of Africa's Sahara Desert, tackling not only the elements, but also unimaginable physical and emotional obstacles. Their goal is to run across six African countries, anticipating two marathons per day, for eighty days ... without a day off. Charlie Engle from the United States, Kevin Lin from Taiwan, and Ray Zahab from Canada, have run together in marathons before. But this time is different. This isn't a race. It's a grueling test of will and a chance to accomplish something that no known person has ever achieved. The films score was produced by Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, composed by Heitor Pereira, with songs from U2, Pearl Jam and original songs performed by Wyclef Jean and the African Children's Choir. DVD includes the following bonus features: • Exclusive 45-Minute Featurette: "Beyond the Expedition" (behind-the-scenes documentary) • Profiles from Partners of the H20 Africa Foundation • A Journey Through Libya Production Studio - NEHST $ 14.99
A Race for the Soul Almost four hundred people, 396 precisely. were selected for the start of the "Western States 100" ultra running event by lottery. On June 23, 2001 at 4:20 in the morning their quest begins and so does this 52 minute documentary. Starting as a
horse race in 1977, 14 original competitors raced to earn belt buckles for completing the distance. Now, without the horses, men and women test themselves in a quest for the same prize, if they complete the event in under thirty hours. This Emmy nominated documentary complete with helicopter footage, athlete interviews, and developing race dynamics, gives you a taste of what will be sacrificed if you dare to run the 100 miles that includes 15,500 feet of elevation gain and 23,000 feet of decline. Production Studio - KVIE - A PBS Affiliate $ 19.95
UltraMarathon Man 50 Marathons-50 States-50 Days 2009 Film of the Year - Competitor Endurance Sports Awards 2009 Gold Medal Jury Award - Park City Film Festival 2009 Telly Award 2009 Hong Kong Int'l Film Festival The inspirational film features renowned endurance athlete and best selling author Dean Karnazes, in his attempt to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days to raise awareness for youth obesity and to get America active. A beautiful and epic journey across the United States, during which Dean pushes the limits of human endurance, inspiring thousands across the country to join him along the path while uniting people of all ages and abilities to take " the next step." Production Studio - JourneyFilm $ 21.95
THE RUNNER Winner - 2006 Park City Film Festival Winner - 2006 ICFF International Film Festival Winner - 2006 Telly Award 2006 Tahoe Reno International Film Festival The Runner follows Extreme Ultrarunner David Horton through the desert sun and high snowbound mountain passes on his attempt to set the speed record on the 2,700 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. To accomplish this he runs more than 40 miles a day for 66 consecutive days. Join the incredible journey that will make you laugh, make you cry and give you an idea what makes an athlete push to this extreme. The DVD includes a unique SimulStattm mapping as well as lots of extras. Production Studio - Journeyfilm $ 19.95
FIRE ON THE TRACK THE STEVE PREFONTAINE STORY Collectors Edition Fire on the Track is the story of Steve Prefontaine, the runner and the rebel. By the time he died in a tragic auto accident at the age of 24, he held all 7 American records between 2,000 and 10,000 meters. Off the track he fought relentlessly for the rights of amateur athletes. Experience his all too short career through rare footage and testimonials of coaches, teammates, family and friends. Includes 3 1/2 hours of bonus interviews. $ 16.95
RUNNERS HIGH Best Movie - Milan Intl FICTS Sports Festival Outstanding Documentary - India Sports Movie Festival When teenagers from one of the nation's toughest neighborhood in Oakland, Calif. sign up to train for a marathon, they begin the journey of a lifetime. Runners High is an intimate character driven documentary of struggle, courage, and hope. During a season filled with conflict and possibility, four of these teen bare their dreams, joys, tears and fears. As several stumble under pressure in emotionally charged moments, others realize the journey begins with the power and commitment to accept responsibility for their own futures. This film shows that no matter what happens next, one season of training to run 26.2 miles can change your life forever. Production Studio - Jacob Productions $ 19.95
SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON Audience Choice Award - 2007 Chicago Intern'l Film Festival This film follows six competitors, including Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor, as they prepare for the Chicago Marathon. Whether they're doing it for the T-Shirts or charity, for meditation or competition, all are convinced that pounding the pavement is the answer. Special Features - " The Making of Spirit of the Marathon " Production Studio - Calico 1880/Twist Films $ 22.50
RACING FORTIME Racing for Time is an inspiring and uplifting story about a male prison guard who creates an unconventional track program for some of the toughest and most violent female offenders at the Texas Correctional Youth Authority. The girls participation in this program not only breaks down racial barriers, but leads them to a path that turns their lives around. Emmy award Charles S. Dutton stars in and directs this Lifetime Original movie based on a true story. Production Studio - Dominant Productions $ 12.95
AMAZONIA VERTICAL Auyan Tepui is the highest table mountain in the Amazon. The indigenous Indians believe that demons still live on the top of it. This film documents the extreme explorer Becko Ondrejovic and a group of his friends as they scale the completely vertical and virgin wall. Experience the power of nature and the adventurous discovery of a lost world. Production Studio - Cinema Libre Studio $ 17.95
FIRST ASCENT Grand Prize & Peoples Choice Winner - The Barry Corbet Film Festival Award Winner - Boulder Adventure Film Festival Join the globe trotting journey to witness the exploits of today's top climbers and their pursuit of climbing's pinnacle achievement - The First Ascent Production Studio - Sender Films $ 29.95
EVEREST Filmed during the infamous 1996 storm that claimed eight lives, the movie documents the filmmakers harrowing rescue efforts. Join an international team of climbers as they scale the world's tallest peak. Witness the perils of skin blistering cold, violent blizzards, and air so thin it numbs the mind. Through IMAX photography you are taken across creaking icefalls, gaping chasms, and towering cliffs. Narrated by Liam Neeson with music by George Harrison. Bonus Features include " Making of Everest ", Climbers Video Journals, and Deleted Scenes Production Studio - Miramax $ 14.95
STORM OVER EVEREST As darkness fell on May 10, 1996, a fast-moving storm of unimaginable ferocity trapped three climbing teams high on the slopes of Mount Everest. The exhausted climbers were soon lost far from the safety of High Camp at 26,000 feet. World-renowned climber and filmmaker David Breashears, who aided the rescue efforts back in 1996, now returns to Everest to shed new light on the worst climbing tragedy in Everest's history. Featuring interviews with climbers and Sherpas about the events and the mountain.The DVD also contains a slide show that takes you behind the scenes with the filming and climbing teams. Production Studio - Working Title for Frontline $ 22.95
TOUCHING THE VOID From Oscar winning director Kevin Macdonald comes a riveting true story of survival. After scaling the never before conquered 21,000 foot summit of Siula Grande in South America, mountain climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, face their greatest challenge yet: getting back down. After Simpson shatters his leg in an awful fall, and the friends are separated by a series of devastating mishaps, their individual journeys have to be seen to be believed. This is truly an astonishing look at the strength of the human will, and the obstacles we can overcome. The movie is narrated by Simpson and Yates, and uses actors to recreate the circumstances, so it plays as both a documentary and an action film. The DVD also contains ? " Making of Touching the Void " Featurette ? " Return to Siula Grande " Featurette ? " What Happened Next " Interview with Joe Simpson & Simon Yates Production Studio - FilmFour $ 14.95
80 meters BELOW THE SUMMIT This documentary follows a group of climbers as they face " Kanchenjunga " the third highest mountain in the world. Translated it means " the five treasures of snow " because it contains five peaks, all above 27,000 feet. Get ready to experience one of the most spectacular expeditions any extreme explorer can make. DVD includes MUSTANG, a documentary about Lo Mantang, a kingdom whose existence has long been kept secret hidden behind the high wall of the Himalaya's. Production Studio - Cinema Libre Studio English Subtitles $ 19.95
ARCTIC EXTREME 110 DAYS IN THE CAPTIVITY OF ICE This is the true life story of four polar explorers who tried to make the dream of crossing the Arctic Ocean from Russia to Canada through the North Pole come true. This goal has remained the last and almost impossible feat of Arctic Exploring. Using only their own strength and without any aircraft support, they reached the pole in 75 days, and then their challenges began. Production Studio - Cinema Libre Studio $ 17.95
THE HEART OF THE GAME Go courtside for a true life rush in this passionate and inspirational documentary. This is an up close and personal look at the Roosevelt Roughriders girls basketball team during six turbulent seasons. You'll meet the hard driving unorthodox coach, and e team full of drive, toughness and the unbridled desire to make history. Includes Bonus Features Production Studio - Miramax Films $ 11.95
HOOP DREAMS Audience Award for Best Documentary - 1994 Sundance Film Festival Best Documentary - 1994 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Documentary - 1994 Chicago Film Critics Award Special Merit - 1994 Producers Guild of America Best Editing - 1995 Academy Award Nomination 1995 George Foster Peabody Award 1995 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award Best Documentary - National Society of Film Critics Best Documentary - New York Film Critics Circle Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary - Directors Guild of America In 2007, the International Documentary Assoc. named Hoop Dreams as its selection for the all-time greatest documentary. The film follows William Gates and Arthur Agee, two African- American teenagers who are recruited by St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominantly white high school with an outstanding basketball program. Taking 90- minute commutes to school, enduring long and difficult workouts and practices, and acclimating to a foreign social environment, Gates and Agee struggle to improve their athletic skills in a job market with heavy competition. Along the way, their families celebrate their successes and support each other during times of hardship.The film raises a number of issues concerning race, class, economic division, education and values in contemporary America. It also offers one of the most intimate views of inner-city life to be captured on film. Yet it is also the human story of two young men, their two families and their community, and the joys and struggles they live through over a period of five years. ? Production Studio - Kartemquin Films $ 24.95
Dare to Dream They started our on empty fields in small towns and cities across America, a handful of friends and family gethered to cheer them from the sidelines. Through seventeen years of bus trips, concussions, childbirth and family deaths, they survived soaring triumphs and devastating losses. Then one day they woke up to find themselves at the center of the world. Ths is the story of how a remarkable group of athletes who struggled for years to earn an audience, succeeded in lifting the aspirations of young women throughout the world. Production Studio - HBO Sports $ 7.95
MIRACLE This is the inspiring story behind one of the greatest moments in sports history - the 1980 United States ice hockey team's triumphant Olympic victory against the Soviet Union. Filled with great hockey action and heart racing suspense, see how the dynamic and determined coach Herb Brooks turned twenty young men into a team that achieved something no one believed was possible. Production Studio - Walt Disney Pictures $ 9.25
Mission Positive Films features DVD's that are in keeping with the theme of this website, To Inspire, Motivate and Educate. All movies are family friendly and suitable for all ages, unless clearly marked " Parental Guidance ". The movies you see on this page come from all over the world, and have the production studio mentioned in the description. We may not always agree with the opinions that are expressed in these movies, but we believe it's important to view the world from multiple perspectives.
We believe strongly in the importance of supporting environmental and humanitarian causes, and will donate 50 cents per item purchased on this page to
CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION Since 1994, CAF has raised more than $21 million, allowing the Foundation to satisfy thousands of funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and dozens of countries. CAF's mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love. At the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece 45 of the 235 participating U.S. athletes (almost 20 percent) were supported by CAF. More recently at the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy, CAF supported 23 of the 56 (41 percent) participating U.S. athletes. www.challengedathletes.org
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