MERCKX

Eddy Merckx is more than a champion cyclist; in his time of unprecedented sporting victory during the 1960s and '70s, he represented the fusion of Belgium's distinct Walloon and Flemish cultures. Filmmakers Christophe Hermans and Boris Tilquin have assembled this loving portrait of a somewhat shy, reserved star who pushed himself to extraordinary limits of pain and endurance. Even after suffering inevitable accidents and injuries, Merckx, through sheer perseverance and dedication, found ways to overcome the adversity he faced. His ambivalent personality, we learn, combined his father's iron will and his mother's generosity. This documentary, drawing on extensive TV archives, concentrates on Merckx's humble ascent, from early competitions to a 13-year run of international triumphs. But at some point during the peak of his career, the energy towards Merckx changed, the adoration was accompanied by jealousy and some felt he was winning too much. Then, in 1978 he retired, on medical advice. Today, Merckx is 79 and still active at various levels of the sport, although not the concern of the film, we are allowed some precious glimpses into his home and family life. Can the extreme, glamorous, tension-filled world of cycling replace the everyday joys and pains of a normal life? Merckx implicitly probes this question.