Story of elderly Taiwanese bikers inspires U.S. filmmaker
2011/10/20 17:15:49
Taipei, Oct. 20 (CNA) Peter Starr, an American award-winning documentary director and motorcycle enthusiast, will visit Taiwan next week to explore the story behind a Taiwanese commercial that he said moved him to tears.
The filmmaker and producer, who has made over 40 films about motorcycle racing in 35 years, will come to Taiwan on Oct. 25 to make a documentary about a group of motorcyclists in their 80s.
Starr said he first learned about the elderly riders through a TV commercial that became a YouTube sensation in February, attracting more than 750,000 online hits.
The ad was based on the true story of 17 men, 81 years old on average and many of them ill, who decided to embark on a journey around the island by motorcycle to fulfill their dream.
Two of them were cancer survivors, eight had heart diseases, and four of them wore hearing aids.
Despite their illnesses and opposition from their families, the men embarked on a 1,139-kilometer ride that took 13 days.
After watching the video on the Internet, Starr said he wanted to visit them in person to learn how the tour may have changed them.
That spirit of "It's never too old to ride" is what he most wants to introduce to the American public, said Starr, who makes a long distance motorcycle trip every year.
The filmmaker, accompanied by one of the elderly men, will visit places in Taiwan that are suitable for biking. He also plans to meet Harley-Davidson and Kymco club members to learn more about biking in Taiwan.
One of Starr's films, "Take It To The Limit," was the Gold Award winner at the 1980 Chicago International Film Festival and the Silver Award winner at the Houston International Film Festival. (Oscar Wu and Kendra Lin)
Source: Focus Taiwan
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