Short film by On: Dominic Lobalu reaches for the dream of the Olympics
The latest On short film, «To Chase a Dream,» continues the extraordinary story of Dominic Lobalu, a top runner who fled his home country. It was directed by J.M. Harper and Hector Aponysus of Park Pictures.
As the world awaits the legendary men's 5,000-meter race at the Olympic Games in Paris on Saturday, sports brand On launches "To Chase a Dream", the final episode of the Olympic short film trilogy "Dream Together". The nine-minute film follows the inspiring and emotional journey of Dominic Lobalu, an orphaned refugee from the war-torn region of South Sudan, to his first gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Rome and his permission to compete at the Olympics.
The short film follows on seamlessly from the plot of the documentary "The Right to Race", which On 2023 released as part of World Refugee Day (m&k reported). The story shows the world-class runner Lobalun's tireless pursuit of his dream, but also the great support he has found from his team and the people of Switzerland.
The film was shot in Lobalu's hometown of St. Gallen and in Rome. The directors combine archive and live competition footage with intimate interviews to capture Lobalu's ambition, drive, charm and humility as the 25-year-old approaches the pinnacle of his sporting dreams - competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
"It's no secret that Dominic's life has already been the subject of the 30-minute documentary 'The Right to Race'. Portraying the same person again required a new context and a different visual and thematic approach," explains director J.M. Harper. "The story powerfully illustrates that a top runner is not just about athletic success, but also a deeply personal story of resilience and the support of many people. Our goal was to illuminate the different layers of Dominic and his team's collective dream as his story continues and his dreams come within reach."
The final episode in On's Dream Together series, which celebrates the power of shared dreams in sport, To Chase a Dream follows two films also directed by Harper: Beyond Number One, which explores the world of 22-year-old Polish tennis sensation and world number one Iga Swiatek, and The Heart to Race, which explores the bond between OAC teammates, Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri and Italy's Sinta Vissa.
Directed by: J.M. Harper, Hector Aponysus. Editors: Byron Leon, Gabriela Tessitore. Camera: Jan Mettler. Composer: William Ryan Fritch. Sound Designer/Mixer: Raphaël Ajuelos. Colorist: Ayumi Ashley. Production: Park Pictures London.
