Varsity 4 Friday, April 13, 2018 - 12:10 PM

Skid Row Marathon

Documentary Feature

85 minutes

2017

Director(s): Mark Hayes

USA

Synopsis

Oregon Premiere

When Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell starts a long-distance running club out of the Midnight Mission on Skid Row, lives change. He trains a motley group of addicts and criminals including a former rock musician, a single mom, an aspiring artist, and a murderer on parole. From running through the streets of LA at night to marathons in Africa, Rome, and around the world, these remarkable people fight the pull of homelessness and addiction at every turn. Realistic and inspirational, you can’t help but root for these runners to cross the finish line—physically and metaphorically. their story is one of hope, friendship, and most of all, dignity.

Director’s Statement

By making this film, we hope to show that even when a social problem seems insurmountable, there is always something we can do to become part of the solution. Judge Mitchell certainly demonstrated this with his running club. When Gabi [Producer Gabriele Hayes] and I lived in downtown LA, we would see people living on the streets and think to ourselves that this is an impossible situation and there is no way to help. The Judge saw the same people, started a running club and has made a difference in so many lives. He truly believes that people on Skid Row have the potential to achieve great things. It inspired us to make this film. We hope that after seeing the film you will be inspired to get involved in your own way.