Lorsbach: Global - Iten

Between red dust and an infinite sky, Iten is the stage for a quest that goes beyond a simple marathon. With GLOBAL – ITEN, Lorsbach invites us to run far beyond the tracks, where body and soul merge.

Iten, the dream factory for runners around the world

Iten, a small town lost in Kenya’s Rift Valley, is much more than just a place on a map. It is a living myth, a Mecca of running where athletes from all over the world come in search of glory, performance, or simply a reason to believe in their destiny. But behind the legends of Eliud Kipchoge and other champions lies a less glamorous reality: that of a running industry where hope is bought and sold, where dreams are shattered, and where sponsor pressure weighs as heavily as the altitude. Lorsbach (Sébastien Lorsbach) does not merely film grandiose landscapes or bodies in motion: he dismantles the mechanism to show what lies behind the myth.

The aesthetics of movement: when running becomes art

In GLOBAL – ITEN, Lorsbach applies to cinema the same visual rigor as in his photographic series. The shots are slow, almost hypnotic: feet striking the red earth, silhouettes stretching at dawn, shadows lengthening on dusty tracks. The director plays with light, capturing those moments when the body seems to float between effort and grace. The sound, too, is crafted like a score: the runners’ breathing, the friction of soles, the wind in the tall grass—nothing is left to chance.

The globalization of running: between opportunity and exploitation

Iten is not just a place; it is a symbol. A symbol of a globalization of sport where young Kenyans, often from modest backgrounds, become promotional commodities for international brands. Lorsbach films this reality without gloss: overcrowded training camps, contracts signed in haste, dashed hopes. Yet, despite this economic dimension, the documentary never slips into miserabilism. It also shows the pride of these athletes, their resilience, and that strange alchemy that makes Iten a place that is both magical and ruthless.

A documentary that goes beyond sports

GLOBAL – ITEN is not a film about running. It is a meditation on effort, identity, and the search for meaning. By following these runners, Lorsbach questions our relationship with pushing beyond our limits, with competition, and even with spirituality. Why do some run to the point of exhaustion? Why do others give up along the way? The documentary raises these questions without answering them, leaving the viewer to confront their own contradictions.

Where can you watch the film and extend the experience?

The documentary is available to watch on Vimeo. For those who want to go further, the Distance Global Book Series (available on Distance Store) offers an even deeper dive into the world of running, through photographs, texts, and exclusive interviews.

Film credits:

Filming and editing: @lorsbach_
Camera supply and digitization: @backtosuper8
Processing lab: @andecfilm
Music and sound direction: @paul__reve
Interview: @sophie_esteve
Transcription: @natasha_drouhin
Special thanks to: Jef Pontier @guillaume_pontier @nicolas_poillot @axelpelletanche @lionel_fracture @kielbonhomme

Photo/book credits:

Photography: @lorsbach_
Art direction and editing: @nicolas_poillot
Graphic design: @axelpelletanche
Introduction text writer and proofreader/editor @kielbonhomme
Interview: @sophie_esteve and @lorsbach_
Transcription: @natasha_drouhin
Image post-production: James Pascale
With support from @distanceathletics @adidasrunning