Directed by Robin Lee, in 2012, Andre Blumberg created the ‘Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge’ (HK4TUC), a marathon of four Hong Kong ultra-distance trails totalling 298 km over three non-stop days. Follow along as determined competitors take on the 2021 edition of what is now one of the hardest ultramarathons on the planet. Also starring: Nikki Han, William Hayward, Chan-Chung Hyun, Kai-Pong Law, Jacky Leung, Sarah Pemberton, Tom Robertshaw, Stone Tsang and Salomon Wettstein.
When you hear what the Four Trails are, you may very well question why on earth would someone voluntarily put themselves through such physical and mental torture? You may still not know the answer to that question at the end of the documentary, unless you’re coincidentally an obsessive hiker, but you will have gained a high level of respect for those attempting it. One of the aspects of taking on this challenge which is fascinating is the high probability of failure.
It’s such a gruelling journey and yet competitors return year after year, despite never having reached the end. It’s an interesting psychology to delve into, and you’d imagine that these people would have intense, obsessive personality types to match and yet they’re all friendly, supportive, very logical people with a huge community spirit. Four Trails lets you into their unusual little collective of people who share the same goal and have a lot of respect for one another.
Robin Lee does a great job of capturing the arduous nature of this challenge without making it feel drawn out or repetitive. With the help of some strong editing work, it weaves together the different competitors so you can see the similar and different problems which each of them faces along the way. Four Trails also nicely benefits from the natural beauty that encompasses a large part of the trail, mixing in plenty of gorgeous landscapes. One thing you might be surprised to learn is that the challenge no longer allows music or sounds to be listened to, adding an extra layer of cruelty to its punishing marathon, in case you weren’t already mystified enough by its appeal.
Four Trails is a portrait of almost unfathomable dedication, for your average person it’s practically impossible to put yourself in the mindset of purposefully putting your body and mind through such an ordeal. With the exception of a few errant shots of injuries which are unnecessary and too detailed, it’s well shot and makes fantastic use of all the natural advantages at its disposal. It moves well and it’s a captivating topic with interesting subjects.
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