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a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Blistering performances.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

This is a tale of hope and perseverance, with moving and still humorous parts from time to time. It shows the straightforward, human character of ordinary people and succeeds in arousing sympathy for them, despite their regular coarse behavior and talk. Nevertheless, I have some objections. I liked the story and make my compliments to the excellent playing skills of all the main actors and actresses, let me make my point clear here. But I'm strongly annoyed by the obligatory swearing and other decadent expressions that apparently must be inalienable to most Dutch movies, from the late sixties on. Seems like filmmakers always need to proof themselves this way, as if they've got stuck in their puberty. It's such a stultifying effect, especially on our youths that take this for example. And the perpetual downgrading of everything religious from our own soil is all equally imposed; are the Dutch so frustrated and childishly unable to discover the positive side of the church? Why this inevitable mockery and cheap scoring on things holy to others? Mind you, I myself are not religious (that is, not in the common way) and I even unsubscribed from the church I was born into. But I deeply respect all those who make more of their lives by believing in a higher goal, and I strongly disapprove the caricaturing of such people. Moreover, I get bored with it because it's such a trodden path by now in our movies and tele- productions. Come on, can't you do better than that?

The are many things that can influence our lives but nothing seems to be more powerful than the certainty of our imminent death. "De Marathon" is a beautiful portrait of friendship and determination, where important choices and decisions are simply necessary in order to move on. Our lives are full of surprises and keeping the spirit alive through thick and thin is not for the faint-hearted. We laugh and we cry, we fight to win and sometimes we lose. The road may be long and believing in who you are and what you can do if your strongest ally. But victory is very relative and if your efforts can somehow be used as a form of inspiration, than you have already succeeded. Nice movie.