Hongkonger making biopic of Mira Rai, Nepali marathon runner and former child soldier
She has a great story that goes way beyond running, photographer Lloyd Belcher tells Mary Hui - though it will contain its share of 'lovely artistic sunset runs'
Two years ago, Mira Rai had barely begun to pursue running seriously. Last Sunday, the former child soldier finished second in the gruelling 110km Salomon Ultra Pirineu race, in Spain .
Hers is a tale of perseverance, luck and surmounting peaks, which is being told in an upcoming film about the 23-year-old Nepali villager by Hong Kong-based photographer Lloyd Belcher.
"She has a great story that goes way beyond running," says Belcher.
See also: How a Nepali village girl became an ultramarathon champion via rebel army
Like all classic running films, there will be "lovely artistic sunset runs" but also "the nitty-gritty" that Rai has had to negotiate.
Belcher, 42, grew up in Hong Kong and has spent most of his life here, with stints in Cyprus, Germany and Britain. The former lecturer in criminology at the University of Hong Kong is a trail-running fanatic and first met Rai last year, when she came to Hong Kong to compete in the MSIG Lantau 50 ultramarathon. After taking her promotional photos, Belcher became fascinated by her story.
"Not just running, but her life story," he says.