ERIC LIDDELL The Flying Man by Mark Harris Chariots of Fire victions about the Sabbath, and he opts out of that n 1981, movie audiences in the USA and race—much to the consternation of the officials of abroad were introduced to 1924 Olympic cham- his Olympic team. A consolation of sorts is offered, pion Eric Liddell through the film “Chariots of as he is offered a teammate’s spot to run in the 400 IFire,” which went on to win four academy awards, meters—not his best event. including the award for best picture. The focus of In the climax of the movie, Harold Abrahams wins this film was on the events preceding and including the 100–yard dash, and then Eric Liddell wins those Olympic games in Paris. the 400 in world–record time. As he is running, For the few that may have never seen that film, his words to his sister from earlier in the film are here is a brief summary. Eric Liddell of Scotland recalled, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” Not and Harold Abrahams of England are two of the noted in the movie, Eric also earned the bronze top sprinters in the United Kingdom in the early medal in the 200 meters. Also not emphasized in 1920’s. Their paths cross early in the movie when the movie was the fact that he was assigned the Eric defeats Harold in a 100–yard race – a rare outside lane, and at the gun took off in a sprint. defeat that drives Abrahams to hire a coach and Onlookers assumed that he would surely burn out strive to improve. This a controversial move in the at that pace, but calling on inner reserves he was eyes of officials in the U.K. who question whether able to hold off the challengers in the second half the use of a professional coach threatens the “strict of the race and win handily. He later said, “The amateur code” that all U.K. athletes are to follow. secret of my success in the 400m is that I run the Abrahams also struggles with the difficulties of first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the last 200m, being a Jew in “Christian England.” with God’s help I run faster.” Eric’s struggle surrounds whether or not his run- Harold Abrahams went on to fame in England as ning is interfering with his ministry, the opposi- a sports commentator and as the chairman of the tion being voiced by his sister. This conflict was probably imagined for story purposes, as his sister A memorial park has been set up in the location of the former in later interviews denied that she opposed his run- Weihsien Internment Camp. ning. Sadly, the film portrayal has tarnished her own reputation, taking what little is known of her life and making it a picture of Christian intoler- ance for worldly activities. Both men make the Olympic team and head for Paris. On the way, Eric discovers that the heats for the 100–meter dash are to be held on a Sunday. To run on a Sunday goes against his Presbyterian con- Mark Harris is the founder and director of Mission Consulting Group which assists organizations in research and strategy development for cross-cultural work. 6 November-December 2008 Mission Frontiers USCWM•1605 E. Elizabeth St.•Pasadena, CA 91104•626-797-1111 Amateur Athletic Association. He died in 1978, and As with “Chariots of Fire,” “The Flying Man” his memorial service is used as the framing device in will aim for excellence in production. Mr. Wang’s introductory and closing scenes of the movie. passion for this project has attracted and inspired a We are also told at the closing of the film that Eric re- collection of top–notch acting and filmmaking tal- ent. The filmmakers will employ a story–telling ap- turned to China and died in an internment camp near China the end of WWII, for which all of Scotland mourned. proach that will allow Eric’s life to speak for itself, aiming to appeal to the widest possible audience. Rediscovers its Hero. The Sequel The Flying Man production company plans to What we are not told in that movie is that the sec- distribute the film worldwide, as the story of ond half of Eric Liddell’s life was every bit as inspir- Eric Liddell has international appeal. A series of ing as the first half – although in a different way. premiers are planned for many strategic cities, in- cluding London, Paris, Toronto, Moscow, Tokyo, Now that inspiring story is to be portrayed in a Hong Kong and Singapore. major motion picture to be called “The Flying Man.” The screenplay has already been written, The Story and the team plans to begin shooting in early 2009, aiming for a theatrical release date in late 2009 or Eric Liddell was born in 1902 in the city of Tian- early 2010. The film is to be produced by a joint jin, China (approximately 50 miles southeast of Chinese/American team, and is to be partially Beijing) His parents were Presbyterian missionar- filmed in China. ies. Not long after his birth, the family moved to Siaochang, approximately 100 miles northwest The planner and director of the project is Z. Wang, of Beijing. Eric returned to the U.K at the age of a filmmaker from China. He has stated that he con- six to enter school, and over time gained sporting siders it a great privilege to honor this heroic figure fame in rugby and as a runner – the latter being who was born and died in China (and after whom the subject of “Chariots of Fire.” Mr. Wang named his son). His vision for doing this story was partially inspired by these words of Psalm In Scotland after the Olympics, Eric was the 77: “Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt of his day. With his of the right hand of the Most High. I will remem- fame, all kinds of doors to earthly success could ber the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your open up for him, but he announced that he would miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all of your return to China, following in the footsteps of his works and consider all your mighty deeds.” father and older brother. Eric with his Chinese students www.missionfrontiers.org Mission Frontiers November-December 2008 7 The China to which Eric returned was suffering While in the camp, Eric continued his informal from the effects of war, famine and other tragedies. ministry to all needy people around him. He He went to work at the Anglo–Chinese College in helped the sick and aged and freely shared his food The Flying Tianjin as a science teacher and became a favorite with those more in need. He organized and ref- Man of his Chinese students. ereed soccer matches for young people. When he After returning to Tianjin from his first furlough in found a boy with no shoes in the cold winter, Eric 1932 he married Florence Mackenzie, the daughter gave him his running shoes – the very ones he used of Canadian missionaries. The couple had three in the Olympics. daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen. Eric showed his character most brightly when he In 1937 his happy life was interrupted by the instructed his fellow prisoners not to hate the Japa- invasion of Japanese forces into Northern China. nese, but to forgive them and pray for them. During the occupation Eric’s work became danger- Life in the camp degenerated as food and supplies ous and traumatic as he witnessed the brutality became more scarce. An opportunity came to Eric of the Japanese soldiers. He helped the victims in when his name appeared at the top of a list for whatever way he could, including teaching them POW exchanges that was negotiated on his behalf hymns. In one dramatic event, he risked his life to by Winston Churchill. He refused to be exchanged, save a wounded Chinese soldier. giving up his place to a pregnant woman and choos- In 1941 life in China had become so dangerous ing to remain and continue serve the other prison- that the British government advised British na- ers. Eric’s health began to fail, and his longing for tionals to leave. Eric faced a difficult decision and his family (which had grown with the birth of a elected to stay in China to continue his work in third daughter) only increased his suffering. spite of the danger. However, he sent his pregnant Eric died in the camp on February 21, 1945, five wife and two daughters to Canada, not realizing months before liberation. A brain tumor, exacer- that he would never see them again. Eric then bated by exhaustion and malnourishment, hastened based himself full–time in Shaochang. his demise. In death he was greatly honored and After the USA entered the war, the Japanese Army mourned, both in the camp and in Scotland. pushed further into China. When the fighting reached Siaochang in 1943, the Japanese rounded The Impact up the westerners and sent them to the Weihsien The life of Eric Liddell has been an inspiration to Internment Camp, the largest internment camp millions in the Western world, thanks in part to in Asia during WWII, located almost halfway the recapturing and communicating of his story in between Beijing and Shanghai. film. “The Flying Man” has the opportunity to -ex The government invested million dollars to revamp the former residence of Eric Liddell.