Movie: The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy

Top 1 Billed Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Ejiofor

Narrator

  • HomePage

  • Overview

    At the Munich Olympics of 1972, John Akii Bua, from the impoverished African country of Uganda, powered round the inside lane in the 400m hurdles, past the English favourite, and reigning Olympic Champion David Hemery, to win the gold medal, 10m clear of the field. John Akii Bua had become the first African to win gold in an event under 800 metres. He was also the first man to break the 48 seconds barrier in the 400 metre hurdles, an event so gruelling its nickname is 'The Mankiller'. This is the story about that amazing triumph - and what happened next. David Hemery retired to respectable fame and fortune, later becoming president of the UK's athletics federation. John Akii Bua returned to a Uganda carving the name of its military "President", Idi Amin, into genocidal notoriety. This is a film about the pinnacle of athletic achievement - and the search to discover what followed.

  • Release Date

    2008-08-10

  • Average

    7.8

  • Rating:

    3.9 starts
  • Tagline

  • Genres

  • Languages:

    English
  • Keywords

Recommendations Movies

Re-Existences
74%

Re-Existences(pt)

2020-11-23

“Re-Existence” is a documentary about migration stories of individuals from the Brazilian queer community.

Main Tera Hero
57%

Main Tera Hero(hi)

2014-04-04

Seenu loves Sunaina but they're chased by a stalking cop, an infatuated beauty and her mafia don dad - can Seenu's heroics work?

Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?
53%

Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?(hi)

2005-07-15

Dr Samir is an absolute charmer when it comes to women, but he poses as a married man to keep them at bay. Love becomes a three-ring-circus for him after he ends up tangled in his web of lies with his girlfriend Sonia and pretend wife Naina.

Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery
72%

Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery(en)

2016-01-10

With The Cookie Jar, Hannah Swensen has a mouthwatering monopoly on the bakery business of Lake Eden, Minnesota. But when a rival store opens, and one of the owners is found shot to death in the store, Hannah is determined to prove that she wasn't the only one who had an axe to grind with the Quinn sisters. Somebody wasn't fooled by the Georgia Peaches and their sweet-as-pie act--and now it's up to Hannah to track down whoever had the right ingredients to whip up a murder.

Star
61%

Star(en)

1993-09-20

When Crystal Wyatt was 16 her father passed away. From that time her life would never be the same. Crystal is banished from the family ranch, and starts a new life as a singer in a San Francisco nightclub.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie - The Promise of the Rose
78%

Sailor Moon R: The Movie - The Promise of the Rose(ja)

1993-12-05

While enjoying the flower gardens, Sailor Moon and friends encounter an old childhood friend of Mamoru's: an alien! He's come back to give Mamoru a special flower but doesn't like Usagi and the rest of the planet's inhabitants. Sailor Moon must defend the earth from the evil Kisenian Flower he's brought back... before the evil vines and blossoms overrun the planet!

Divers at Work on the Wreck of the "Maine"
57%

Divers at Work on the Wreck of the "Maine"(fr)

1898-01-01

Divers go to work on a wrecked ship (the battleship Maine that was blown up in Havana harbour during the Spanish-American War), surrounded by curiously disproportionate fish.

Main Atal Hoon
58%

Main Atal Hoon(hi)

2024-01-19

Statesman and poet Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's eloquence and vision shaped India's destiny. A look at his remarkable life as he led his country through a challenging period of change and development as the 10th Prime Minister of India.

Main Street on the March!
56%

Main Street on the March!(en)

1941-12-09

This Best Short Subject Academy Award winning film begins in the spring of 1940, just before the Nazi occupation of the Benelux countries, and ends immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It chronicles how the people of "Main Street America", the country's military forces, and its industrial base were completely transformed when the decision was made to gear up for war. Original footage is interspersed with contemporary newsreels and stock footage.

Mythica: The Darkspore
56%

Mythica: The Darkspore(en)

2015-06-24

Fighting through creature-infested lands and pursued by bounty hunters, Marek and her company are in a race to recover all the shards of the Darkspore before it falls into the hands of an evil wizard.

Avatara Purusha: Part 1
50%

Avatara Purusha: Part 1(kn)

2022-05-06

When a son of an Ayurveda scholar goes missing, he blames his sister and cuts all ties with her. When the latter's daughter decides to set things right with a devious plan, there seems to be more trouble waiting for the family.

The Botanical Avatar of Mademoiselle Flora
55%

The Botanical Avatar of Mademoiselle Flora(fr)

1965-05-05

A young woman lives sadly in a small garrison town with a soldier. Little by little, won over by boredom, sadness, total inaction, she develops a relationship with plants and starts talking to plants.

East of Main Street: Asians Aloud
60%

East of Main Street: Asians Aloud(en)

2010-05-01

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, HBO presents a collection of perspectives from a diverse group of Asian Americans.

State and Main
62%

State and Main(en)

2000-08-26

The residents of a small Vermont town don't know what hit them when a beleaguered Hollywood film crew brings a chaotic shoot to their quaint village.

Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe
69%

Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe(en)

2016-06-19

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen just can't keep her hands out of the batter when murder stirs things up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, leaving the sheriff dead, a deputy accused, and a killer on the loose.

Last Ma(i)nland
58%

Last Ma(i)nland(ru)

2024-09-06

Photographer Grigory Yaroshenko gets a chance to visit Antarctica and learn about the life of polar explorers. But his wife is expecting their second child, and life changes. Gregory is faced with the question of male self-identification and acceptance of new family circumstances.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
63%

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar(hi)

2023-03-08

To earn extra cash, Mickey helps couples break up — but life gets complicated when he falls for Tinni, a career woman with an independent streak.

Journey Across the Mainland
53%

Journey Across the Mainland(zh)

1988-06-08

Joseph Kuo's final film.

Re-Kill
60%

Re-Kill(en)

2015-10-16

Five years after a zombie outbreak, the men and women of R-Division hunt down and destroy the undead. When they see signs of a second outbreak, they fear humanity may not survive.

Avatar: Scene Deconstruction
65%

Avatar: Scene Deconstruction(en)

2009-12-18

The deconstruction of the Avatar scenes and sets

Similar Movies

Isle of Snow
0%

Isle of Snow(en)

2019-09-18

Isle of Snow Join us as we explore the snowboard world through the passion and perspectives of the people who live it and made it their lives follow their passions.

Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
75%

Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows(en)

1998-12-20

This documentary follows superstar Bret Hart during his last year in the WWF. The film documents the tensions that resulted in The Montreal Screwjob, one of the most controversial events in the history of professional wrestling, in which Vince McMahon, Shawn Micheals, and others, legitimately conspired behind the scenes to go against the script and remove Bret Hart as champion.

The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
64%

The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior(en)

2005-09-27

The strange career of one of the wrestling world's most controversial figures is explored in this WWE Home Video release focusing on eccentric brawler The Ultimate Warrior.

The Spirit Warrior
0%

The Spirit Warrior(en)

2024-05-10

Max Voronski was on the road to a life of crime until he discovered kickboxing and turned into an aspiring young sportsman, eager to become a world champion. Max has got the talent, but the road to glory is a bumpy one.

Only the Ball Was White
90%

Only the Ball Was White(en)

1980-02-21

Throughout the 1900's, before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1946, black baseball talent blossomed in the Negro Leagues. Baseball buffs still sing the praises of Josh Gibson who could be counted on to hit 70 homeruns in a season, and Satchel Paige who pitched over 100 no-hitters in his career. Only the Ball Was White pays tribute to the many topflight players from the Negro Leagues. Narrated by actor Paul Winfield, the program documents a bygone bittersweet era in baseball and the men who were denied stardom by the color line. Ballplayers throughout the country were interviewed for this program, all of them quick to tell tales of the life, the competition, and the camaraderie. These include: Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Buck Leonard, Jimmy Crutchfield, David Malarcher, Effa Manley, and Quincy Trouppe.

Jaromír Jágr
0%

Jaromír Jágr(cs)

1997-01-01

O ETERNO 3 a 3
0%

O ETERNO 3 a 3(pt)

2021-10-28

A Brokedown Melody
70%

A Brokedown Melody(en)

2004-01-01

A Brokedown Melody explores the times, travels and experiences of a tribe of surfers who search for the spark of life and look to pass it on to the younger generation. The film follows swell through South America, Polynesia and Jamaica documenting the surfing and times of Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Gerry Lopez, Rob Machado and the Malloys.

Sprout
100%

Sprout(en)

2005-01-01

The modus operandi of the Sprout is to show the surfing culture how truly lucky we are to live in the lush life of the ocean experience, and emphasize all the diverse possibilities we have in accessing this fountain of youth. Riding eggs, fishes, traditional sytle longboards and the modern shorty. Every wave is a new possiblity. Shot entirely on 16mm film.

Michigan vs. Ohio State:  The Rivalry
62%

Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry(en)

2007-11-13

Steeped in a rich tradition dating back to their inaugural meeting in 1897, this rivalry extends beyond the pursuit of a Big Ten title, and is renewed each year through the pageantry and colliding cultures that distinguish the two schools.

Germany: A Summer's Fairytale
68%

Germany: A Summer's Fairytale(de)

2006-10-03

A documentary of the German national soccer team’s 2006 World Cup experience that changed the face of modern Germany.

Lance
71%

Lance(en)

2020-01-27

A personal examination of the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong.

Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story
0%

Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story(hi)

2025-09-12

This access-driven documentary chronicles the life of Unmukt Chand, an Indian-American cricketer once heralded as ‘the next big thing’ in Indian cricket. The film is an intimate exploration of universal themes like broken dreams, second chances, mental health, identity, and the immigrant experience—through the lens of Unmukt and his wife, Simran.

Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty
67%

Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty(de)

1938-06-02

Part two of Leni Riefenstahl's monumental examination of the 1938 Olympic Games, the cameras leave the main stadium and venture into the many halls and fields deployed for such sports as fencing, polo, cycling, and the modern pentathlon, which was won by American Glenn Morris.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening Ceremony: United by Emotion
52%

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening Ceremony: United by Emotion(en)

2021-07-23

Coverage of the glorious Olympic Opening Ceremony of the Games in Tokyo. The 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony took place on 23 July 2021 at Olympic Stadium, Tokyo. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture and history.

The Olympic Games, Amsterdam 1928
52%

The Olympic Games, Amsterdam 1928(nl)

1928-01-01

A documentary on the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Tyson
68%

Tyson(en)

2008-05-16

Director James Toback takes an unflinching, uncompromising look at the life of Mike Tyson--almost solely from the perspective of the man himself. TYSON alternates between the controversial boxer addressing the camera and shots of the champion's fights to create an arresting picture of the man.

Rot Sport marschiert
0%

Rot Sport marschiert(de)

1930-01-01

Documentary about the "Kampfgemeinschaft für Rote Sporteinheit", a communist workers' sports association in the final phase of the Weimar Republic.

Kirkcaldy Man
0%

Kirkcaldy Man(en)

2011-10-23

Who is Jocky Wilson? 20 years ago every child in Kirkcaldy, on the east coast of Scotland, could answer this question. One of the best darts players ever, world champion in 1982 and 1989 - a national hero. But in '95 Jocky paid the price for his self destructive life style. In search of his myth, we follow the forces that shaped Jocky's hometown and its inhabitants as we discover lost memories of the man who once inspired the nation.