Red Army

In select theaters
January 23^rd 2015

76 minutes

English
Russian

USA
Russia

From Oscar® nominated and Emmy award-winning filmmakers, RED ARMY is a feature documentary about the Soviet Union and the most successful dynasty in sports history: the Red Army hockey team. Told from the perspective of its captain Slava Fetisov, the story portrays his transformation from national hero to political enemy. From the USSR to Russia, the film examines how sport mirrors social and cultural movements and parallels the rise and fall of the Red Army team with the Soviet Union. RED ARMY is an inspiring story about the Cold War played out on the ice rink, and a man who stood up to a powerful system and paved the way for change for generations of Russians.

Director

Gabe Polsky

Executive Producers

Werner Herzog, Jerry Weintraub, Liam Satre-Meloy

Writer

Gabe Polsky

Cinematography

Svetlana Cvetko, Peter Zeitlinger

Editing

Eli B. Despres, Kurt Engfehr

Music

Christophe Beck, Leo Birenberg

Sound Editor

E.J. Holowicki

96% on the CINEMETER

BOCA

90% - Jan 11, 2015

More than a sports documentary-- a compelling story of a hero, friendship and patriotism!
Boca Raton Member

Fascinating for a non-hockey fan. Beautifully and passionately told
Boca Raton Member

Not a film I would have gone to see but I'm so glad I saw it. Not a dull minute in it and very moving!
Boca Raton Member

I felt tears in my eyes many time. Very moving about friendship, patriotism.
Boca Raton Member

US kids, especially those playing hockey, should see it because of the marvelous lesson it teaches about TEAMWORK
Boca Raton Member

Loved the completely different way about showing hockey--teamwork, almost balletic strategy, not just brute force and blood on the ice.
Boca Raton Member

Slava was and is a very interesting man--amazingly tough and principled.
Boca Raton Member

Great editing and cinematography! Gabe is an excellent interviewer who knows how to wait and get the most from his subjects.
Boca Raton Member

STL

99% - Jan 11, 2015

A brilliant film—a historical study, a reflection on politics, a study in character, teamwork, commitment and tenacity . . . leadership style. I had no idea about the artistry and creativity in hockey which is a hallmark of the Russian teams. The film is beautifully done.
St. Louis Member

As with the Maldives documentary I thought about skipping this because of disinterest, but again I was completely engrossed. Exceptional use of microexpression in lieu of dialogue. Great touches—Reagan and the KGB agent’s granddaughter.
St. Louis Member

Film brilliantly interweaves Soviet-Russian history and culture and their national sport. Captures the deep patriotism of Soviet/Russian population. By turns, it is poignant and inspirational. “Balletic” and chess-like style of Red Army team is a revelation.
St. Louis Member

Fabulous story about a significant time in history as seen from the perspective of a top athlete—weaves politics, propaganda, power of personal ties together into a tale of triumph. Shows how sports is often used as a political tool.
St. Louis Member

I loved the “movement” of this film: as a group, grace on ice; as a solid unit of friendship and national pride; as a group yearning to find their individual freedom.
St. Louis Member

Phenomenal film. Excellent history lesson. Fetisov’s face was so expressive—you could tell how he felt abut a question before he opened his mouth. Hope he doesn’t play poker for money …
St. Louis Member

MIL

100% - Jan 18, 2015

Surprised that I enjoyed something about hockey!
Milwaukee Member

Outstanding look into the world through sports.
Milwaukee Member

99% - Dec 21, 2014

Thank you for exposing me to something (hockey) that I would never have selected as a Saturday evening movie night. It certainly helped me understand the former Soviet Union and the personal sacrifice that the athletes and families made to play "the game."
San Francisco Member

Really extraordinary. Better than fiction. Fantastic filmmaking. Outstanding guest speaker.
San Francisco Member

More about politics that sports, which is great. So nice to open a window onto a world I knew nothing about. Interesting history lesson.- I'm no sports fan, but enjoyed the unfolding story.
San Francisco Member

One of the best documentaries I have seen, in many ways. Excellent guest, he augmented the movie and added very interesting background. I have such a greater appreciation for the balletic, fascinating style of Russian hockey, wish we had more of that in the NHL.
San Francisco Member

What an unexpected Christmas gift - thank you!
San Francisco Member

93% - Dec 21, 2014

The combination of sports and politics made this documentary my favorite film of this Cinema Club season.
Greater New Haven Member

Pleasantly surprised about the emotional, substantive quality of this film. Fetisov was an amazing personification of the history being examined. Fabulous!
Greater New Haven Member

I was riveted from start to finish. As a 56-year-old who was in the U.S. Air Force during the cold war, I could relate in so many ways. More importantly, the current state of despair in Russia makes this film even more relevant.
Greater New Haven Member

Very interesting story and interviewing style. The KGB man’s granddaughter (sunglasses) interlude was a delightful moment or ‘real life’: brilliant choice to include it.
Greater New Haven Member

Wow! I never had any interest in hockey but this film was fantastic. It was a sports film, a history lesson, and a great morality play.
Greater New Haven Member

Subtle, complicated, fascinating. Who would expect that a movie about hockey would reveal so many truths about history, politics, and the impossibility of seeing things purely as ‘good” or ‘bad.’?
Greater New Haven Member

I’m not a sports fan, but this story is so much more: a morality tale; a story of struggle, honor, politics, culture, sharing, loyalty. Bravo!
Greater New Haven Member

Expected to be bored out of my mind, but film was totally compelling from first frame. Found the interviewing style to be very fresh and engaging. Really captured the personalities and the atmosphere of those times.
Greater New Haven Member

Note: about 20 other people mentioned either that they were not fans of hockey or that they did not expect to like this film (or both), but that they found the film to be engrossing and illuminating. Example: I was not looking forward to this film, but it was a delightful surprise. Another example: Excellent insight into a subject that never interested me. It opened my eyes not only to Soviet hockey but also to pride of country and love of the game.
Greater New Haven Member

99% - Dec 21, 2014

Pacing and editing make or break a documentary, and this film is an example of excellence in both.
Washington, DC Member

The opening of the film was outstanding in setting up the rest of the story.
Washington, DC Member

I thought this was going to be another sports movie - instead it was an excellent dialogue about the transformation of our world.
Washington, DC Member

Opened the window on a hidden system and put a human face on the Soviet machine. I have greater insight into the struggle underway in Russia to find a new balance between the collective and the individual. My main quibble is that I STILL don't know how Team USA could have beaten the Soviets in Lake Placid!
Washington, DC Member

Wow. Like a great Russian novel, but not depressing!
Washington, DC Member

It's now my new favorite ballet movie!
Washington, DC Member

BOS

89% - Dec 21, 2014

Fabulous! Very well done. Interesting period of history.
Boston Member

Superb film linking geopolitical currents and events and the human stories embedded in them. A must see for US sports fans.
Boston Member

Excellent! I am not a hockey guy at all, but I found this film to be very compelling. Slava Fetisov showed tremendous strength of character through the highs and lows he was dealt. True to himself. True to his country.
Boston Member

ATL

97% - Jan 11, 2015

I don't know a hockey puck from a Russian vodka, but I LOVED this film.

[MODERATOR NOTE: many cards (6) like this--"A terrific, educational, uplifting experience! Worthwhile to anyone, not just hockey fans.

Beautifully made." Several also thanked the club for showing it: "Excellent!! I am not a sports person, but I loved this documentary. Thank you, Cinema Club!"]
Atlanta Member

Splendid!
Atlanta Member

NOW I'm a hockey fan!
Atlanta Member

LOVED the storytelling and humor with a very stoic, but misunderstood, topic. As someone who grew up playing hockey in the '70s in the northeast, this had a lot of personal meaning for me.
Atlanta Member

Another "miracle on ice." Fetislov is a man of integrity, indeed--makes me think of the student in front of the tanks at Tiananmen Square: one man challenges the system and wins.
Atlanta Member

Brilliant in so many ways--use of film outside of inteivew--watching the emotion while the person watches video from the past--so compelling/moving.
Atlanta Member

What a great filmmaker--the editing is so propulsive, inventive and witty, but it makes space for longeurs that let you register emotions on a face or hear the unsaid commentary.
Atlanta Member

I never imagined how "the agony of defeat" affected the Russian team. A very engaging film--ultimately another story of survival. Humanizes the destructive nationalism that state-sponsored sport can create.
Atlanta Member

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