Chariots of Fire touches
on nationalism but its main objective is to try to determine the relationship
between sport and religion. Abrahams's religion leads to his rejection
by some of his comrades and yet his faith only slightly affects his
sport. But the films message is instead carried through Liddell's religious
convictions and how the athlete must react when forced to choose between
glory on the field and the glory of God. Liddell, who would later become
a missionary, objected to running on Sunday as planned by the Olympic
Games schedule, even after a meeting with the Prince of Wales where
he was encouraged to run on Sunday for his King and country. Eventually
running and winning in another event, Liddell clearly decides to choose
God first and then King and country.
Chariots of Fire may not
be a perfect film, but the audacity of its topic, the careful treatment
of the period, the deeper-than-usual characterizations, and, its music,
make it truly one of the greats. Furthermore, the nostalgia is increased
by having the film told through an extended flashback, the present being
Abrahams's own funeral in 1978. In this respect, the film's structure
is similar to Lawrence of Arabia, but the latter film had little of
the celebration of the human body which can be found in Chariots of
Fire.