On general release now (Germany)
Jan Tenhaven / 2010 / Germany / 94mins
Filmed in various countries across Europe, Autumn Gold is a documentary following five senior athletes as they train to compete at the World Masters Championships in Lahti, Finland. But with their ages ranging from 80 to 100, training is much more difficult as not only do they have to fight against their injuries, their ages also prove to be another obstacle, and one that they are determined to beat.
While a documentary about older people training to take part in their version of the Olympics could be seen as quite funny, and also quite dismissive, Tenhaven’s film is a thoughtful and inspiring documentary that cares for and understands each athlete as people and as professionals. While Autumn Gold does touch upon the background of the subjects, such as their home lives, their family lives and also their sex lives, their training and determination to not only enter the games, but also to break existing world records in their disciplines make up the bulk of the film. Touching, funny but always inspiring, Autumn Gold is a refreshing and welcome look at what being old means and why we should never write off the elderly.