THE TRACK
A Film by Ryan Sidhoo
The Track is a coming of age journey of three friends chasing their improbable Olympic dreams in post-war Bosnia.
Training on their bullet-riddled luge track left over from the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, the film begs the question: Where does a generation go after destruction?
“A beautiful longitudinal study capturing Bosnia's past and present reflected in the hopes and dreams of three young men.”
— True/False Festival
“A sobering love letter to Bosnia through the prism of sport.”
— Richard Deitsch, The Athletic
THE STORY
The Track is a contemporary coming-of-age story following three teenagers—Mirza, Zlatan, and Hamza—chasing their Olympic dreams in post-war Bosnia. Training on their decaying luge track, a relic of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games, the boys are guided by their resilient coach, Senad. His unwavering commitment to rebuilding the neglected track mirrors his struggle to secure a future for the boys in a country burdened by the highest youth unemployment rate in Europe.
The soul of the project lies in its relatable, sometimes humorous, and heartfelt portrayal of friends striving for a better life amidst rekindled nationalism and political corruption. As the story unfolds, the film explores the thrilling arc of an Olympic pursuit, the raw allure of street life, and the transformative power of civic activism.
Balancing their quest for glory with moments of struggle and heartbreak, the project traces the boys' diverging paths as they navigate a world still scarred by the atrocities of the 1990s. Drawing parallels to today’s global conflicts, the film captures the arduous journey a nation faces in recovering and rebuilding after besiegement. Ultimately, what emerges over five transformative years of filming is a hopeful love letter to Sarajevo—a universally resonant story of resilience, ambition, and healing.
