Steve Fonyo Documentary: The Steve Fonyo documentary examines the deterioration of a Canadian hero into addiction and poverty (Fonyo raised millions for cancer research, but his legacy is now mired in drugs, and arrests) A new documentary explores the terrible story of a cancer survivor who ran across the country on one leg. Former marathoner, Steve Fonyo’s life was turned upside down as he ran from coast to coast across Canada.
The film will be shown in Winnipeg next weekend as part of Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival by director Alan Zweig. It was a good story, and I wanted to know how it all came to be, Zweig stated. When I heard the news, I was shocked and saddened…. It’s a path that a lot of individuals have had to go down in their lives. As a teenager, Fonyo lost his leg to cancer. In 1984 and 1985, he ran from coast to coast, raising $8 million for cancer research and earning the Order of Canada at the age of thirty-two. After that, everything changed for him. Fonyo struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, was imprisoned, and had his Order of Canada revoked.
Because most stories of addiction and difficulties lack an exceptional achievement like he did, like sprinting across the country—it’s an astonishing achievement—his story is very instructive.” Onscreen, the man who designed and built the prosthetic Fonyo wore as he raced across the country makes an appearance. He makes a point about how great Fonyo’s accomplishments were, and then laments his ultimate demise. After finishing the run, Zweig believes that Fonyo took a negative turn “10 seconds later.” The run, Zweig claimed, was “almost like a cry for rescue.
It’s a Convoluted Story, in my opinion
In some ways, I believe the marathon helped his life more spectacularly go in this direction than it would have otherwise. Throughout the film, we see Fonyo swearing, fighting, breaking up with his partner (or partners), and even going to court. “I believed that the only way you could convey the story was to get to see all warts,” he remarked. It’s a convoluted story, in my opinion.
Even though Fonyo ran across the United Kingdom, Zweig says his legacy isn’t given as much credit as it deserves because of Canada’s better famous one-legged long-distance runner. Terry Fox is a hero for running halfway across the country, and Steve is a hero for going all the way across the country, Zweig added. “In our eyes, he was a hero.” When Stephen Charles Fonyo, Jr., was 12, he was diagnosed with cancer and had to have his left leg amputated below the knee. He then embarked on a cross-Canada marathon called “Journey for Lives” to raise money for cancer research.
While Terry Fox had his cancer returned and had to quit the Marathon of Hope, FONYO explores Steve Fonyo’s climb to stardom and fall from grace and spends time with him while he awaits punishment at Surrey Pre-Trial Detention Centre in British Columbia. To be reinstated into The Order of Canada, Steve Fonyo must overcome his mistakes and bad actions. The documentary examines whether or not this is possible. Additionally, FONYO is a comprehensive look at all the scandals that have plagued Steve’s life, including ones that never made it into print.
The Weekend with Steve Fonyo was Strange
It’s common to hear that social media is a waste of your time. A social media post this summer led me into a completely unexpected rabbit hole featuring none other than Steve Fonyo, the legendary Canadian anti-hero. There are those who believe social media is a waste of time, but I disagree. Social media posts may lead some people down the rabbit hole of the famed Canadian anti-hero Steve Fonyo, but for me, it was a completely unexpected rabbit hole earlier this summer.
Desolation Sound is one of my favorite places in the world, yet it’s only accessible by boat and is roughly 15 miles away from the nearest road. “I think that waterfall would be a good spot to capture Steve Fonyo,” said noted documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig, who is also one of my favorites (with his movie camera). That caught me off guard. Hurt: The Steve Fonyo Story, Zweig and Gentile’s 2015 film, was a critical and commercial success. At the Toronto International Film Festival, Hurt took home the Platform Award and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary Feature. During the course of the film, the story of a 12-year-old boy who lost most of his left leg to cancer is revealed.
When Fonyo’s 1984/85 coast-to-coast run for cancer research was at its peak, the film begins. His fundraising total topped $14 million, despite the fact that he ran through the winter. Despite his remarkable achievement in finishing the race, Terry Fox has always been his idol. Fonyo fell into a life of addiction, homelessness, and crime when the adventure was over, and that’s where the filmmakers found him when they tracked him down. Fonyo was assaulted, stabbed, and nearly killed in a home invasion on the final day of filming, but he survived.
Because of his incarceration for an unrelated offense following the home invasions, Fonyo could not attend the screening of Hurt: Powell River provided by one town. The results of the exam led to an invitation for Fonyo to attend drug rehab in Powell River, which he gladly accepted. Fonyo fell in love with the northern Sunshine Coast and moved there, where he cleaned up his act. The filmmakers were interested enough by the turnaround to begin work on a sequel, which will be set primarily in and around Powell River this time around.
Fonyo’s Demeanor was Cheerful and Friendly
Then I stepped in. I first met Fonyo, Zweig, and the rest of the film team in Powell River at a music festival in the middle of a glorious late summer weekend. Fonyo’s demeanor was cheerful and friendly, and he was eager to meet new people. Despite the fact that the beating left him permanently scarred, he appeared unfazed.
Arriving at the nearest government wharf to Desolation Sound on the following day, the full entourage met a mini-flotilla I had organized. As the gangplank was lowered, Fonyo, the film crew, his girlfriend, a few other sidekicks, and Lola, their muscle-bound pit bull, cautiously made their way down the gangplank. On Fonyo’s nose, there was a new cut. Zweig told my wife that “the pitbull bit Steve in the face” when she asked the director what occurred. Despite my reservations, everyone piled onto my boat and two others, and we sped across the crystal seas toward the waterfall in search of the promised treasure.
When Fonyo saw the beautiful scenery and felt the warm wind on his hair, he was on his feet and screamed with joy. When we eventually got to the waterfall, that’s when things became dicey. In a sun-dappled cedar grotto, the filmmakers had everything set up for the perfect shot, but Fonyo had other ideas. Alan Zweig, his girlfriend, and I followed him into the waterfall. Only Fonyo stood firm, even after the pitbull had entered the waterfall.
Fonyo’s mechanical leg was involved in a bizarre tug-of-war, which included remarks such as, “You sprinted through Saskatchewan in the winter! “Get the fuck in here, it’s not chilly!” No matter what happens to Steve Fonyo in the Desolation Sound waterfall, I won’t tell the outcome. Until now, you’ll have to wait for the release of Hurt 2 before you can see the clip. There’s no denying it: social media may take you to some strange areas you didn’t expect.
