Georg Csarmann
Multi-alum director Matt Porter (Nighty Night, Damage, Flex) returns to S/W with his latest comedy The Runner, written by and starring Dru Johnston (Orange is the New Black, The Chris Gethard Show). The film tackles a question as old as time itself: Why in the world does anyone run for recreational purposes?
The short takes a true-to-life situation and gives it a unique existential spin. After his plan to start running in order to win back his ex-girlfriend fails, Ken (Johnston) faces a crossroads. Does he continue his path of self-improvement or get back to his schlubby self in defeat?
Life may sometimes feel like we’re running in circles, as if nothing we do, or have done, has any effect. We are so caught up in the present moment that it’s hard to imagine our future selfs and how they might benefit from the actions we take today. However, it’s important to remember where you’ve come from and to think about what it would be like to meet a past self and see how far we’ve come. This short is a reflection on that process, but the film also touches upon another essential truth: Showing us that one of the best things you can do to get over a break-up is to get moving and find something that engages your mind and body.
Dru Johnston – the writer and lead performer in The Runner
The Runner takes all of these ideas and presents them in the form of a congenial comedy, anchored by Johnston’s performance and Porter’s light-hearted sense of direction. And just when you think you’ve seen similar shorts like this before, it takes an unexpected turn and adds sci-fi elements to deepen the story and its message. Ken will discover what truly lead him on his track, even if the initial motivation was to loose weight so his ex-girlfriend would take him back.
It’s a discussion I’ve had numerous times over the years: When we work out and take care of ourselves physically, are we mainly doing it for the perception of others or can it be just for ourselves? It might help to think of someone else, or even just the idea of another person, to get started with some kind of exercise and stay motivated. If you are in a relationship, you can think about being in shape for your partner; if you’re single, the thought of helping your chances in the dating world can make you go for that dreaded run or not miss your gym appointment again. Of course, if you feel happy with your own body as it is, that’s great too… or even better. But if you’re into physical fitness, some internal driving force is key, even if it stars with external motivation.
Inspired by his own experiences, lead actor and writer Johnston took this concept and turned it on its head. How do you actually motivate yourself to get off the couch and out for a run, even if every fiber of your body rejects the idea? Eventually, Johnston managed to find meaning in his hobby, but his initial reason was less than positive and self-loving:
“I’ve been a runner for years now. It keeps me sane. I do it for my physical health, but also my mental health. But when I first started out, my relationship to running was anything but healthy. I ran because I thought I was fat, and I hated that about myself. I remember getting dumped and thinking, ‘If only I was skinnier we’d still be together,’ as if my personality had nothing to do with it”.
When you’ve watched the short, you can see that this inner conflict and the break-up heavily inspired The Runner. I can definitely sympathize with the notion that it takes a while for running to get fun. To be honest, I’m still not there yet, but I do find inspiration in Johnston’s description. What’s interesting as well, is that running itself seems to be a fruitful subject matter for short films in general, although it’s more common in the short doc area (Mile 19, How to Tell Gunshots From Fireworks, Stray Dawg). Maybe there’s something about the determination, perseverance and potential elevation a runner obtains through overcoming setbacks and low points that filmmakers can relate to?
As Johnston further explains, “Running means a lot to me, […] so I wanted to find a way to explore my connection to it, and tell a human story.” In contrast to the aforementioned documentaries, turning his motive into a fictional film helped the filmmakers to find a different angle on the topic. “This is my attempt to make a movie about the real ups and downs I feel while running, but doing it through genre filmmaking, both comedy… and a touch of sci-fi.”
Given the fact that both director/editor Matt Porter and writer/actor Dru Johnston worked on comedian Chris Gethard’s truTv show, it feels like The Runner exists in a similar comedic tradition. It’s a specific sensibility that somehow feels exaggerated and grounded at the same time, combining self-deprecation and vulnerability with compassion in a way that helps others to feel less alone. One could argue that a lot of comedy and storytelling in general is built on those foundations, but it’s a nice reminder, in the case of The Runner, to see the impact it can have if we choose to create something out of our personal struggles in a relatable way.
Take care of yourself.