060 | カラダにいい映画 第3回。映画の主人公が走るワケ

BRUTUSで主に映画ページを担当するライター・門間雄介さんが選ぶ、「カラダにいい映画」をご紹介。
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BRUTUSで主に映画ページを担当するライター・門間雄介さんが選ぶ、「カラダにいい映画」をご紹介。

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今回は「走る」映画についてご紹介したいと思います。古今東西、挙げてもきりがないほど、たくさんの走る映画が作られてきました。そんな中でも名作の誉れ高い一作が1981年のイギリス作品『炎のランナー』です。おそらく40代以上の人なら、ヴァンゲリスが手掛けた有名なテーマ曲、あの「♪チャンチャララチャンチャン」という荘厳な響きがすぐさま甦ってくることでしょう。

舞台は第一次大戦後のイギリス。男子100mのライバルとしてしのぎを削るふたり、エーブラムスとリデルがやがて英国代表として'24年のパリ五輪に出場するまでを、本作は彼らの対照的な走り方とともに描き出していきます。ユダヤ人として偏見にさらされながら、プロ・コーチの指導を受け、あくまで"自分"のために走るエーブラムス。一方、敬虔なキリスト教徒のリデルは、家族のため、国家のため、そして何より恩寵を与えてくれる"神"のために走ります。劇中、「走ることは彼の人生」というセリフがあるように、ふたりにとって走ることはすなわちみずからの生き方そのもの、自身を捧げるものだったのです。

「走」という言葉がタイトルに使われている作品だけでも、『犬、走る』『単騎、千里を走る』『嵐の中を突っ走れ』『南へ走れ、海の道を!』などさまざまありますが、劇場未公開だった『ラン・ファットボーイ・ラン』(2007)はあまり知られていないかもしれません。副題は『走れメタボ』。『ワールズ・エンド 酔っ払いが世界を救う!』('13)などのサイモン・ペッグが脚本・主演したこの作品は、別れた女性とヨリを戻すため、運動とは無縁のメタボな警備員がマラソン大会に出場するコメディーです。走るための秘策が「ものすごい速さで足を交互に出し続ける」ことという運動音痴の彼にとって、目標はとにかく走り切ること。精神力と忍耐力を鍛錬すれば完遂できる長距離走は、映画でも小説でも、主人公の成長を描く物語に最適なテーマなのでしょう。

人が走るのは、当たり前のことですが、陸上競技においてだけではありません。映画史上に残る「走る」名場面を描いた作品、『フレンチ・コネクション2』('75)で主人公のドイル刑事が走るのは、麻薬密売組織のボスを追い詰めるためです。映画のラスト、路面電車に乗り、果てはヨットで逃亡を図るボスを、ひたすら走って、走って、追い続けるドイル。足はもつれ、「ハアハア」という彼の荒い呼吸が画面を満たす中、彼の目線の先には遂にボスの乗るヨットが......。何度観ても掌をギュッと握りしめてしまう、本当にスリリングな作品だと思います。

■『炎のランナー』

監督:ヒュー・ハドソン、出演:ベン・クロス/第54回アカデミー賞で作品賞を始めとする4冠を達成した名作。CMを手掛けていた監督らしく、スローや音楽を効果的に用いて、浜辺や五輪での走る場面を感動的に演出した。'20年代初頭の英国社会も見事に再現。

■『ラン・ファットボーイ・ラン 走れメタボ』

監督:デヴィッド・シュワイマー、出演:サイモン・ペッグ/人気TVシリーズ『フレンズ』のD・シュワイマー初監督作。何をやっても途中で投げ出してきた男が一念発起、愛する女性のため、仲間の協力を得てマラソン大会での完走を目指す。ギャグのつぶてに抱腹。

■『フレンチ・コネクション2』

監督:ジョン・フランケンハイマー、出演:ジーン・ハックマン/アカデミー賞5部門を制覇した前作に続く刑事アクションの傑作。第1作が映画史に残るカー・チェイスを作り上げたのに対し、こちらは屈指のラン・シーンを。あまりに鮮やかな幕切れも必見。

門間雄介

●もんま・ゆうすけ

編集者、ライター。「CUT」元副編集長。08年「T.」創刊。編著書に「実験4号」伊坂幸太郎×山下敦弘など。BRUTUSをはじめ、多数の雑誌で編集執筆。イオンシネマ「シネパス」の作品選定などにも携わる。

【関連記事】

(「からだにいい100のこと。」より転載)

10 Energizing Yoga Poses
Half Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara)(01 of10)
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Sun Salutation sequences are traditionally performed as a way to awaken the body. \"This is great to do upon rising, even before you have had your first cup of coffee,\" Bielkus says. \n\nTo perform the sequence, stand up straight in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with the feet together and arms at the side of the body with open palms. Sweep the arms up and extend them over the head on the inhale, then exhale and bow forward into a forward bend. On the inhale, lift the torso halfway up, place your hands at your shins and extend the spine. Fold forward again on the exhale. When you inhale, sweep back up and bring the palms together into prayer. Repeat this sequence three or four times. \n\nClick here for a video tutorial. (credit:Getty Images)
Camel Pose (Ustrasana)(02 of10)
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The gentle heart-opening stretch of the camel pose -- performed either with the hands on the lower back or reaching down to touch the heels -- can be highly invigorating for the entire body. \n\n\"Camel is great because it\'s a total front-body opener,\" Bielkus says. \"You have the front of the legs moving forward. ... The core is stretching and the torso is lengthening up. The chest is really opening and expanding so that the lungs can expand full of breath.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)(03 of10)
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\"This pose combines both leg strengthening and mild back bending, bringing energy into the body,\" Bielkus says. \"Just like the name suggests, this pose awakens the warrior within -- power and strength, but with ease.\"\n\nClick here for basic Warrior II instructions, and try adding what Bielkus calls the \"breath of fire\" for an extra energy boost. \n\n\"A great way to rev up this posture is to add in breath of fire -- rapid belly breath, focusing on the exhalation,\" Bielkus says. \"To start, take a deep breath in and then pump the navel in as you exhale. The inhale will take care of itself.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana) (04 of10)
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After Warrior II, try going into a restorative Triangle Pose. Straighten the front knee and extend the arm forward and then down to the shin, the floor next to the leg, or a block. Reach the other arm up and turn to face the sky, breathing deeply for five breaths, Bielkus advises. Then, repeat on the other side. \n\n\"This pose is about fully expanding not contracting,\" Bielkus says. \"Focus less about stretching and more about expanding and bringing breath and energy to every cell, every skin pore, every fiber of your being.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Side Plank (Vasisthasana)(05 of10)
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For the whole body-strengthening Side Plank, start in a plank pose. Turn to the right side, stacking the feet on top of each other, and lifting the left hand. Breath deeply for five breaths before repeating on the other side. If you\'re looking to modify the pose, Bielkus suggests bringing either the bottom knee or the forearm down to the ground. \n\n\"Yoga brings our mind to a oneness and a focused attention,\" Bielkus says, regarding the balancing poses. \"The more that we\'re coming into a mental clarity or focus, the less energy we\'re expending on that stress. The cortisol levels can drop and then we feel a little more energized.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Chair Pose (Utkatasana)(06 of10)
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The dynamic Chair Pose is performed by standing with the feet together or hip-width apart, and bending the lower body down as if you were sitting on a chair. Raise the arms to the ears and raise the chest up to complete the pose. \n\n\"This pose is literally translates from Sanskrit as \'powerful\' pose,\" says Bielkus. \"Sometimes in class, I refer to it as lighting bolt pose because [of] the amount of energy it creates in the body by using the big muscles of the legs and glutes while also creating a slight backbend, which awakens the spine.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Half-Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) (07 of10)
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In addition to warding off stress and anxiety, the Half Moon Pose can be therapeutic for fatigue, according to Yoga Journal. In a forward fold, bring the right hand about 10 inches in front of you and slightly to the right, extending the left leg up while the hips and torso open. Extend the left arm up and hold the pose for five breaths before repeating on the other side. \n\n\"Any balancing poses are great for finding that inner balance,\" Bielkus says. (credit:Getty Images)
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)(08 of10)
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\"Back bends are all about unlocking the energy of the spine and nervous system,\" Bielkus says. \n\nLying on your back, bend the knees and place your feet flat on the floor with arms by your sides. Lift the hips up high and interlace the hands together or leave the arms at the sides of the body. Breathe deeply for five breaths and repeat several times. (credit:Shutterstock)
Locust Pose (Salabhasana)(09 of10)
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For this strengthening pose, lie on your belly with arms by your side and palms down. Then, gently lift the arms, legs, chest and head off the floor and breathe deeply for five breaths, trying to lift up higher with each breath. Repeat three or four times, being careful not to strain the neck. For more of a challenge, extend the arms in front of you, as pictured at left. \n\n\"You\'re really stimulating the upper, middle and lower back, and the muscles of the hamstrings are engaging\" Bielkus says. \"You\'re using so many muscles in the body to lift yourself off the earth. The neurons are firing to make that all happen.\" (credit:Getty Images)
Right Nostril Breathing (Surya Bhedana)(10 of10)
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This energizing pranayama (breathing exercise) offers a counterpoint to the calming left nostril breath. To perform the exercise, sit upright in a chair or on the floor in a comfortable cross-legged position, blocking the left nostril with the thumb and extending the fingers. Breathe long and deep, in and out of the right nostril for around five minutes, Bielkus advises. \n\n\"The right nostril is associated with the energy of the sun,\" Bielkus says. \"This breath is stimulating, invigorating and awakening.\" (credit:Getty Images)