“When we break through our own limits, we reach the extraordinary” - Millán Ludeña
Millán Ludeña considers himself to be a rather ordinary fellow, a part-time athlete with a passion for breaking through his own limits on what seems to be a rather frequent basis.
From Core to Sun follows Ludeña as he chases after yet another of his extreme feats, this time hoping to be the first individual from his native country of Ecuador to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. In fact, Ludeña hopes to enter the book twice by running a half marathon inside the deepest part of the world, the Mponeng Mine (4,000M below the Earth's surface) in South Africa and then travel back to his home country to run a half marathon toward the closest point to the sun, Mt. Chimborazo (6,280M) - all within the remarkably short span of less than 80 hours.
If you've been following my writings for any length of time at all, then you likely understand why From Core to Sun has a story that appeals to me. A bit of an extremist myself when it comes to adventure, probably my most noteworthy being a 41-day and 1000+ mile journey in my wheelchair around Indiana, I found the story of Millán Ludeña completely and utterly captivating from beginning to end as director Oliver Garland beautifully captures the committed and disciplined drive of a man whose primary competition seems to be against himself and his own limitations rather than anyone else.
Though, ya' gotta admit, that world record would be awfully cool.
Ludeña's passion for positively representing Ecuador is palpable and contagious, a passion brought vividly to life by Simon Brauer's absolutely stellar lensing for the film that not only captures the intensity of Ludeña's undertaking but also breathtakingly immerses you in the beauty of Ecuador.
While my own endeavors are admirable, the truth is my discipline and commitment pales in comparison to the remarkable research, planning, and relentless training that Ludeña undertakes in an effort to plan for what is truly a remarkable effort. However, Millán Ludeña is no stranger to remarkable efforts. He is one of 14 people who have managed to run more than 100 km in the coldest place (Antarctica) and also the hottest (Sahara desert) in the world; while he may not be a full-time athlete, his adventures have regularly challenged some of the most extreme places on the planet.
From Core to Sun captures the rigors of relentless training while weaving into the fabric of the story words and philosophies from Ludeña himself. The film is practically like bathing within inspiration, so utterly motivational is Garland's direction and a score by Sam Welsh that breathes excitement into every moment of the story.
From Core to Sun is now available via your usual digital and VOD outlets including iTunes, Amazon Prime and the usual other outlets. For more information on the film, visit its official website linked to in the credits.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
