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IMDbPro

Red Army

  • 20142014
  • PGPG
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Red Army (2014)
Following the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War, this documentary tells the story of the nation's famed Red Army hockey team through the eyes of its captain Slava Fetisov.
Play trailer2:05
9 Videos
31 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyHistory
The story of the Soviet Union's famed Red Army hockey team through the eyes of its players.The story of the Soviet Union's famed Red Army hockey team through the eyes of its players.The story of the Soviet Union's famed Red Army hockey team through the eyes of its players.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
7K
YOUR RATING
    • Gabe Polsky
    • Gabe Polsky
  • Stars
    • Viacheslav Fetisov
    • Vladislav Tretiak
    • Scotty Bowman
    • Gabe Polsky
    • Gabe Polsky
  • Stars
    • Viacheslav Fetisov
    • Vladislav Tretiak
    • Scotty Bowman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 114Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos9

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch Official Trailer
    Festival Trailer
    Trailer 1:08
    Watch Festival Trailer
    Dont Let Him Out Of The Country
    Clip 1:06
    Watch Dont Let Him Out Of The Country
    They Were The Best
    Clip 1:03
    Watch They Were The Best
    Tikhonov
    Clip 1:22
    Watch Tikhonov
    Training Camp
    Clip 1:27
    Watch Training Camp
    Tarasov
    Clip 1:54
    Watch Tarasov
    I Was Born In The Soviet Union
    Clip 1:19
    Watch I Was Born In The Soviet Union
    I Belong To A Great Nation
    Clip 1:03
    Watch I Belong To A Great Nation

    Photos31

    Felix Nechepore in Red Army (2014)
    Gabe Polsky in Red Army (2014)
    Wayne Gretzky, Sergei Makarov, and Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Vladislav Tretiak and Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Vladimir Putin and Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Viacheslav Fetisov in Red Army (2014)
    Viacheslav Fetisov and Lou Lamoriello in Red Army (2014)
    Vladislav Tretiak in Red Army (2014)
    Scotty Bowman in Red Army (2014)
    Red Army (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Viacheslav Fetisov
    Viacheslav Fetisov
    • Self
    • (as Slava Fetisov)
    Vladislav Tretiak
    Vladislav Tretiak
    • Self
    Scotty Bowman
    Scotty Bowman
    • Self
    Vladimir Pozner
    Vladimir Pozner
    • Self
    Herb Brooks
    Herb Brooks
    • Self - US Olympic Coach
    • (archive footage)
    • (voice)
    Don Cherry
    Don Cherry
    • Self - Hockey Commentator
    • (archive footage)
    • (voice)
    Mark Deakins
      Alan Eagleson
      • Self - Hockey Agent
      • (voice)
      Lada Fetisov
      • Self - Wife Of Vladislav Fetisov
      Anatoli Karpov
      Anatoli Karpov
      • Self
      Alexei Kasatonov
      Alexei Kasatonov
      • Self
      Vladimir Krutov
      Vladimir Krutov
      • Self - Red Army Right Wing
      Ken Kurtis
      • (voice)
      Lawrence Martin
      • Self - Journalist
      Felix Nechepore
      Felix Nechepore
      • Self
      Igor Rabiner
      • Self - Journalist
      Igor Romishevsky
      • Self - Soviet Hockey Legend
      Tatiana Tarasova
      Tatiana Tarasova
      • Self
        • Gabe Polsky
        • Gabe Polsky
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Quotes

        (voice): [confused] Wait a second. Go Back. I don't get why Yazov let you leave the country, if he was mad at you.

        Viacheslav Fetisov: I'm not a historian. My feeling was the country tried to change something, because it's Perestroika time, but he doesn't want changes. Everybody was afraid. It's understandable. It's like in a dark room, trying to find a dark cat. It's not funny.

        [still confused]

        (voice): Okay.

      • Connections
        Featured in Docventures: Urheilu (2015)
      • Soundtracks
        Romany Rythm
        Composer: Aaron Wheeler

        Courtesy of Firstcom Music

      User reviews32

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      8/10
      Bleeding Red
      Greetings again from the darkness. You need not be a hockey fan to be familiar with the "Miracle on Ice" upset of the seasoned Russians by the upstart Americans at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. Often referred to as a battle of cultures – "our way vs their way, capitalism vs communism" – most articles, TV shows, and movies have been presented from the American perspective. It's only now, in this informative and entertaining documentary from filmmaker Gabe Polsky, that we gain some insight into the Russian players and their way of life.

      Mr. Polsky is the son of Russian immigrants, and grew up playing hockey in Chicago and later for Yale. His research into Russian hockey evolved into a documentary that blends sports, geopolitics, history, culture, and personal stories. He mixes in some fantastic archival film footage from the 1970's and 80's, but the heart of everything here flows from the interviews with Russian hockey legend Vyacheslav Fetisov, who is a vital and unique link to past and present.

      Fetisov is sometimes playful and sometimes snide in his remarks, but he basically narrates the history of Russian hockey – starting with Stalin's founding of the organization, through the two key coaches: father figure Tarasov and the militant Tikhanov who followed. Stalin was convinced that Russian domination of global sports would clearly establish communism and the Russian culture as far superior to capitalism and the carefree ways of the west. This led to the Red Army hockey camps being run by the military. The players were isolated for eleven months each year, training and playing in a manner that generated ultimate teamwork, but also quite unhappy young men.

      We see the influence of Russian chess (Karpov) and the Bolshoi ballet for training methods, and we also see the ever-present KGB ensuring no "escapes", or what we might know better as defections. We learn about the Russian Five (including Fetisov) who were so dominant that the team went two years without losing. Gold medals in Sarajevo (1984) and Calgary (1988) occurred just prior to the 1991 dissolution of the U.S.S.R. and the economic crisis of the region.

      This is what opened the door for Russian hockey players to enter the NHL, though the transition was smoother for some than others. After a few years of adjusting, it was coach Scotty Bowman's 1997 Detroit Red Wings that won the Stanley Cup with a contingency of Russian players (including Fetisov) who were given free reign to play their own game while on the ice. Their movements and intricate teamwork clashed mightily with the individualistic style of westerners … and that group of Russian players can be credited with helping the game to evolve to its current style.

      Much of the insight comes from the faces of the men who are interviewed. Their stoicism and lack of emotion is a microcosm of the society in which they were raised. Their country was obliterated by war, and then led by a megalomaniac who wanted to rule the world. Human emotion and the rights of individuals mattered little, and we see that despite the years of hardship, these players remain (mostly) true and loyal to their country. This is a fascinating look at human nature and how the culture of one's youth can directly impact the beliefs as an adult, so many years later.
      helpful•39
      7
      • ferguson-6
      • Feb 25, 2015

      FAQ1

      • Bluray Release Date

      Details

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      • Release date
        • January 29, 2015 (Germany)
        • United States
        • Russia
        • Official site
        • English
        • Russian
      • Also known as
      • Production company
        • Gabriel Polsky Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • 1 hour 24 minutes
        • Color

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