Buddha on a bicycle
In order to inspire a billion people, he had to leave the two he loved the most.
Logline: In 1890s America, Major Taylor, a young African-American cyclist, trains his whole life to become a world champion in order to fight racial injustice, but after winning the world championships, Major discovers he hasn’t changed anything after he’s nearly killed and retires. When Major is forced to return home, he finds out Samuel, his childhood friend, has banned African-Americans from competing at the local track and Major must choose between his family or to come out of retirement and make a better world for the community.
Synopsis: It’s 1930 and 50-year old MARSHALL “MAJOR” TAYLOR’s glory days as the world’s fastest cyclist are behind him. He’s broke, in poor health, and discriminated against for being black. In a publisher’s office, Major tells the story of his life to young DANIEL.
Major and his family live and work on the estate of a white family, the SOUTHARDS. On his 10th birthday, Major gets a bike and spends hours riding it with his friend, SAM SOUTHARD. When Major beats Sam in a race, Sam calls Major the n-word and Major hits him. Major’s family is evicted and they fall into poverty, with Major’s dad, GABRIEL, leeching off Major’s job. Seeing potential in Major, former racing champ BIRDIE MUNGER hires the kid to work in his new bike shop.
At age 14, Major breaks a world record, which feels incredible, except that it’s unofficial. With his home life in shambles, Major leaves his family to train with Birdie. Aside from gaining physical strength, Birdie teaches Major to funnel all his anger into his racing. By age 18, Major is determined to use his racing talent to convince white people that black people are their equals. Major chalks up some impressive wins and times – all despite the violent efforts of the white racers. With every win, more white people come out to cheer him. But life on the racing circuit is tough, with Major living in terrible conditions thanks to “whites only” hotels. In 1896, Major and DAISY marry and honeymoon in style in de-segregated NYC. Major scores a come-from-behind win and is crowned national champion and new world record holder.
Major keeps winning. The racial tensions never stop. Some black people think that Major has sold out to the white man, but he thinks that eventually his success will force equality. Birdie offers a house in a “whites only” neighborhood to convince Major to race in Paris, meaning he won’t be present for the birth of his first child. Major wins all over Europe and Australia, loving being in countries devoid of segregation. Back home, Major suffers a breakdown during a racist confrontation. He recovers and quits racing, finding a peace he never knew before in raising daughter, SYDNEY. After a year and a half of home life though, Major begins missing the excitement of racing.
Major’s mother dies and he returns to Indiana to see that nothing has changed for black people. He decides to stay after discovering Sam banned blacks from competing at his track. But two days before the race, Major can’t bring himself to get on his bike. Racing has turned him into a man he doesn’t like. He’s abandoned his family and has hate in his heart. He reunites with his father, GABRIEL, who explains that he bought Major his first bike so that he could keep playing with the white kids – as their equal. Major finds a renewed sense of purpose and joy. Just as when he was 10, he races against Sam. But this time, he lets Sam win. The crowd is stunned, but Sam gets it. He shakes Major’s hand, showing unity.
Forward to 1932 when the now-grown Daisy gets a knock on her door. It’s Daniel, fulfilling the promise he made to Major to give Daisy the autobiography–but only once Major has died. In his final years, he spoke out about the violence he suffered at the hands of other racers, and he spent every penny he had on his autobiography, hoping it could change people’s hearts. He wanted Sydney to understand he had to leave her and Daisy in order to make a better life for their community. When he died, no one was at his funeral.
Buddha on a bicycle
为了激励全世界，他不得不离开最爱的两个人。
故事简介：十九世纪八十年代，年轻的非裔美国自行车手“少校”泰勒立志赢得冠军，以抗击种族不平等。经过不懈努力，他终于成为了世界冠军。可在九死一生后，一切并未好转，泰勒选择退役。他被迫回到家乡，却发现儿时伙伴塞缪尔下令禁止非裔美国人参加当地的自行车比赛。是回归家庭，还是复出参赛以改变不平等的局面？少校必须做出艰难的选择。
故事梗概：二十世纪三十年代，五十岁的“少校”马绍尔 泰勒迎来了属于他的荣耀时刻，世界上最快的自行车手也只能在他的身后苦苦追赶。但是，泰勒穷困潦倒，伤病缠身，又因为是黑人而饱受歧视。在一家出版社的办公室里，泰勒给年轻的丹尼尔讲述着自己的故事。
“少校”和他的家人住在白人雇主索斯纳德的庄园里。在他10岁生日的时候，少校得到了一辆自行车。他每天都要和好朋友塞缪尔 索斯纳德一起骑上几个小时。一天，少校在比赛中击败了塞缪尔。塞缪尔一气之下，竟然叫少校“黑鬼”。少校打了塞缪尔，而他和家人也因此被逐出庄园。少校一家从此过上贫困的生活，他的酒鬼父亲加布里埃尔又不断榨取儿子辛苦赚来的工资。这时，前自行车比赛冠军“快鸟”芒格看到了小少校的潜力，便雇他在新开的自行车行打工。
14岁的时候，少校就打破了一项世界纪录。这种感觉真是太棒了，只是那次骑行未能得到官方认证。家徒四壁，少校选择离开，追随芒格训练。除了身体训练外，芒格还教导少校将怒气转化成力气。18岁时，少校决心通过自己在赛道上的天赋向白人证明，黑人同样优秀。这之后，虽然白人对手为了阻止他而无所不用其极，少校还是获得了多项比赛的冠军。他的成功也让越来越多的白人为他欢呼。然而，当时条件不错的酒店都是“只限白人入住”。比赛期间，少校的住宿环境非常糟糕。1896年，少校与黛西结婚。与很多人一样，他们选择了已经废除种族隔离的纽约度蜜月。在一场比赛中，少校后来居上，获得全国冠军，并将新的世界纪录收入囊中。
少校继续在赛道上高奏凯歌，可是种族歧视却从未消失。一些黑人认为少校卖身给了白人，可少校坚信他的成功最终会促成种族平等。芒格想以一套“白人社区”的房子说服少校去巴黎参赛。可如果少校答应的话，他将错过第一个孩子的出生。少校赢遍了欧洲和澳洲，也喜欢去到那些没有种族隔离的国家。回到美国，种族冲突让他身心俱疲。精神状态好转后，少校选择退役，举家迁到一个听都没有听说过的地方，希望可以安心地抚养女儿雪梨长大。一年半后，少校却开始怀念比赛带来的兴奋感。
少校的母亲去世，他回到印第安纳的父母家。在那里，黑人的境遇没有一丝改变。少校还发现塞缪尔禁止当地的黑人骑手参加比赛，他决定留下。可就在比赛开始前的两天，少校发现他无法再跨上自行车。比赛已经让他变成自己不喜欢的样子。他抛弃了家人，心中充斥了恨。于是，少校主动与父亲加布里埃尔和好。父亲解释说，当初给他买第一辆自行车，也是为了不让他被同龄的白人孩子落下——因为他们是平等的。少校重获使命，也再次感受到了快乐。就像10岁时一样，他再次与塞缪尔一较高下。但这次，他让塞缪尔赢得了比赛。观众一片哗然，可塞缪尔明白了少校的用意。他与少校握手，消除隔阂。
时间到了1932年。黛西前来应门，是丹尼尔。他履行了向少校做出的承诺，将少校出版的自传交给黛西——只是少校已经离开了这个世界。在晚年，少校讲出了自己遭受其他骑手暴力对待的经历，并用毕生积蓄出版了这本自传，希望可以改变人们相互怨恨的态度。少校希望雪梨可以理解，他离开妻女是为了让这个社会变得更好。少校走的时候，没有人为他送葬。