
A sports documentary with riveting politics, Red Army charts the development of the Soviet Union’s state controlled ice-hockey team during the 80s and 90s. Told from the perspective of the team’s army employed stars (including fascinating champion Slava Fetisov) Red Army explores the impact of government coercion on the squad’s success, state of mind and personal freedoms from gruelling training regimes to separation from their families. It’s surprising then that these decorated athletes also speak fondly about their team and the USSR.
“A fascinating & often witty insight into teamwork & Russian-American relations”
By handing his documentary over to the players’ point of view, director Gabe Polsky thoroughly achieves his aim to ‘celebrate the art that emerged from such a charged and unique time in history’. Original game footage testifies to the Red Army’s unique playing style: flair that’s baffling to players across the Pacific.
Polsky was raised by Soviet immigrants in the US and the clash between the two nations is never far from view. The conflict between America’s capitalist dream and Russian communism plays out on the ice as Soviet players seek transfer to America’s NHL: ambition that’s exploited and blocked by an adversarial military who view the team as a symbol of Soviet excellence. Game outcomes are used by both Russian and American commentators as evidence of their own nation’s political righteousness. Polsky rarely loses sight of this absurdity, opening his film with a tongue-in-cheek public safety message from the 50s. More than just a sports documentary, Red Army is a fascinating and often witty insight into teamwork, friendship and Russian-American relations.
VERDICT: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5
Certificate: 15
Running time: 84 minutes
Red Army is now available as an online rental, the same time as cinemas
Have always wanted to check this out but kept putting it off. No longer!
Great review Natalie
Thanks Tom. Hope you enjoyed it.
Very interested in seeing this. Their lives as players in the US sounds fascinating, particularly given the political climate.
I found it fascinating. Hope you’ve had a chance to see it. I’ve been away for a while but I’ll stop by your blog soon to check out your thoughts on Carol – I saw your review pop up in my emails a while back. It’s definitely one of my favourites from the year.
Thanks…still haven’t seen this or Suffragette…but trying to get through as many as possible before a year end list. I’m sorry my emails probably hit you once a day! Worse than LinkedIn, Photobox and Booking.com combined!
thanks for making sure it gets on my list!
You’re welcome Jay. Have you had chance to see it yet? It seems to be appearing in a few independent cinemas over here again at the moment.
No mention of how the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers beat them…….