THE RACER
by Kieron J. Walsh
synopsis
Summer 1998 - the opening stages of Le Tour de France are relocated to Ireland. Belgian rider Dom Chabol (late 30s) has been one of the best "Domestiques" (support riders) on the Tour for the last 20 years. It's a sacrificial role - setting pace, blocking wind, and providing support to enable the team's sprinter to victory - winning is not an option. But Dom secretly harbours a desire to wear the yellow jersey - just once before his career is over. At the start of what will likely be his last Tour, Dom is unceremoniously dropped from the Team he has dedicated his life to. His best mate Sonny, the team masseur, fails to reassure him about his future. But a chance liaison with Lynn, a young Irish doctor, softens the blow, and Dom starts to accept - and even enjoy - the idea of civilian life. But as he gears up to go home and to face his estranged sister, a massive doping error knocks another teammate off the Tour and Dom is thrown back in the saddle.
international title: | The Racer |
original title: | The Racer |
working title: | The Domestique |
country: | Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium |
sales agent: | Independent Film Company |
year: | 2020 |
genre: | fiction |
directed by: | Kieron J. Walsh |
film run: | 95' |
release date: | BE 9/09/2020, NL 22/10/2020, UK 18/12/2020, FR 22/06/2022 |
screenplay: | Ciaran Cassidy, Kieron J. Walsh, Sean Cook |
cast: | Louis Talpe, Matteo Simoni, Tara Lee, Iain Glen, Karel Roden, Timo Wagner, Sarah Carroll, Diogo Cid, Ward Kerremans, Paul Robert |
cinematography by: | James Mather |
film editing: | Mathieu Depuydt, Nico Poedts |
art director: | Ray Ball |
costumes designer: | Uli Simon |
music: | Hannes De Maeyer |
producer: | Yvonne Donohoe, Katie Holly |
co-producer: | Jesus Gonzalez-Elvira, Robin Kerremans, Dimitri Verbeeck |
executive producer: | Sarah Lebutsch, Lesley Mckimm, Cora Palfrey, Kieron J. Walsh |
line producer: | Cathleen Dore |
production: | Keeper Pictures, Calach Films, Caviar Films |
backing: | Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann (Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann), Film Fund Luxembourg, Screen Flanders, Eurimages |
distributor: | Kinepolis Film Distribution, Vertigo Films, Dutch FilmWorks, Ascot Elite Home Entertainment GmbH, Epicentre Films |