1:54

Tim is a 16 year old sprinter whose life seems orderly on the track even as he grieves his mother and quietly questions his sexuality. A gifted runner, he hides a private life that feels off limits. When a personal video finds its way onto social media, the world he knows begins to unravel and the pressure he faces goes from private to public in an instant. The story follows his attempts to preserve a sense of self while the scrutiny of peers, coaches, and family presses in. The film tracks how a small community responds to rumor, how friendship can waver under suspicion, and how Tim keeps returning to the track as a place of refuge. As the rumor mill churns, Tim must decide who to trust and what to reveal, all while staying focused on the track.

Directed by Yan England, 1:54 released in 2016 as a Canadian drama starring Antoine Olivier Pilon and Sophie Nélisse. It comes from an original screenplay rather than an adaptation, and its restrained, intimate tone suits the heavy subject matter.

Box office data for 1:54 is not widely documented. The film had a modest theatrical run in Canada and played at film festivals, with attention mostly from critics and festival audiences.

Though not a blockbuster, the film sparked conversations about privacy and teen sexuality in Quebec cinema. Critics highlighted its restrained tone and the way social media magnifies vulnerability, making Tim's predicament feel immediate and real. The discussion touched on how platforms shape rumors and how families cope when a young athlete becomes a public figure.

Reception centers on strong performances by Pilon and Nélisse, with reviewers noting the film's careful handling of grief, identity, and the psychic toll of public scrutiny. The story probes how young athletes cope when private life collides with digital life and invites viewers to consider how much of themselves they reveal online.