Red Army

The reason we have so many espionage thrillers about the Cold War is that people want to be terrified as much as they want to be inspired, not to mention the need to be assured of one's own superiority.

"Red Army" tells the story of Viacheslav "Slava" Fetisov and the Soviet Union's dominance in ice hockey during and after the Cold War. But this documentary is about so much more than a game, it's about the way two brilliant and accomplished cultures relate to each other, and the importance of competition in national identity.

When the USA beat out the Russians in the 1980 Olympics, Herb Brooks, Coach of the US team said, "It proves that our way of life is the proper way to continue on." So you can imagine how excited Fetisov and his teammates in the "Red Army" (as the USSR's hockey team was know) were in 1984 when they took the gold.

Fetisov was fiercely patriotic, but not to the point he would lie down and roll over when his coach, Viktor Tikhonov, became unreasonable. The National Hockey League wanted the team captain to cross the ocean and play for them, and since Communism was coming to an end, Fetisov took them up on the offer. But Tikhonov wasn't going to let the hockey legend go without a fight.

You don't need to be a fan of hockey to enjoy this film. No matter what you know about the game, "Red Army" takes the view on a wild ride full of ups and downs in fortune, broken alliances and enduring friendships.

Extensive Soviet archival footage and brilliantly clever editing make this documentary so much more than talking heads relaying a story about the past. Director Gabe Polsky keeps you biting your nails and sitting on the edge of your seat, by mining his interview not only Fetisov's words but also his reactions. Purists of non-fiction film may find Polsky's style manipulative. (He goes so far as to use a subtle laugh track during an interview.) Critics may go so far as to call it "propaganda," but the fact remains this is an exciting and thought provoking film to watch, often because of its technique.

There's plenty more information about the subject in the special features. Feel what it was like at a screening of the film during the Toronto Film Festival (with Wayne Gretzky in the house) as the audience engages in a Q & A with the filmmaker; check out the the interview with hockey legend Scotty Bowman and see what was left out of the film; listen to another Q & A with Polsky and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul or listen to the commentary with producer Werner Herzog and the director. The deleted scenes on this disc are also full of history footage and well worth watching.

"Red Army"
Blu-ray
Rated PG | 85 minutes
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