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Time Trial

Name: Time Trial
Director: Finlay Pretsell
Released: 2017
Duration: 81 min

Representation Score

6.0/10

Good

2017

Director

Finlay Pretsell

Runtime

81 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Time Trial is an intimate character study that humanizes a professional athlete. By focusing on the physical and psychological agony of David Millar, it deconstructs the myth of the indestructible sportsman. However, the film remains tied to the traditional demographics of professional cycling, lacking a broader range of representation across gender, race, and identity. Ultimately, the documentary offers a specialized look at endurance rather than a broad exploration of diverse social identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Time Trial have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the professional journey and physical toll of David Millar. There is no explicit depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.

How does Time Trial portray gender?

Fair

The film centers on the male-dominated world of professional cycling. It challenges the cliché of the invulnerable male athlete by showing his vulnerability. However, it lacks diverse gender perspectives.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Time Trial?

Limited

The documentary immerses viewers in the professional cycling circuit and the Tour de France. It lacks visible diversity in terms of race and ethnicity.

How does Time Trial represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores individual ambition and the existential demands of sport. It avoids traditional morality, focusing instead on the subjective experience of success and suffering.

Does Time Trial include disability representation?

Fair

The narrative provides a realistic look at temporary physical impairment and the limits of human capacity. It avoids 'inspiration porn' by documenting the unvarnished physical toll of high-performance labor.

Present on Screen

Highlights the physical vulnerability and post-race agony of the protagonist, challenging the cliché of the invincible athlete.
Provides a realistic, unvarnished look at the physical limits and temporary impairments of high-performance athletes.
Offers a nuanced, existential view of success through a deeply personal character study.

Limited or Absent

Lacks diverse gender representation or the inclusion of female perspectives within the sporting narrative.
Shows a lack of visible racial and ethnic diversity within the professional cycling environment.
Does not explicitly engage with LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional relationship dynamics.

Official Synopsis

Time Trial takes us into the final races of cyclist David Millar’s career, leading up to his last encounter with the Tour de France. We go inside the peloton, we’re pushed up impossible climbs and forced down rapid descents, we lie alongside him in his hotel room in post-race agony. We ride in the support car, the source of comfort, supplies and fleeting relief from the cold. And we know that every mile traveled is a mile closer to the end.

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