I decided to watch the documentary "Red Army" for two reasons. First, I really enjoy hockey. Second, a few months ago I saw a very fascinating documentary about the NHL's attempt to support hockey in the ex-Soviet Union...something which was doomed to fail. "Red Penguins" was thoroughly fascinating....something I can't exactly say about "Red Army". Now I am not saying that "Red Army" is a bad film...it just isn't quite as good as "Red Penguins". Much of it is because so many of the interviewees in "Red Army" obfuscate...either refusing to answer questions, acting disinterested in others (such as when Fetisov takes a phone call on his cell phone instead of attending to the interview) and giving answers which, in a few cases, didn't fit the questions! It must have been very frustrating for the filmmakers. Oddly, the most straight-forward interviewee appeared to be Vladimir Pozner...the guy who used to be the Soviet government's official spokesman and apologist.
The film is about the Red Army's 'amateur' hockey team from the 1960s to the fall of the Soviet Union. It specifically focuses on those members of the team, particularly Viacheslav Fetisov, in how the fall of the communist regime effected their careers and lives.
As I mentioned above, the film is interesting for what ISN'T said. But even with this difficulty, it's still a fascinating look at Soviet hockey.
The film is about the Red Army's 'amateur' hockey team from the 1960s to the fall of the Soviet Union. It specifically focuses on those members of the team, particularly Viacheslav Fetisov, in how the fall of the communist regime effected their careers and lives.
As I mentioned above, the film is interesting for what ISN'T said. But even with this difficulty, it's still a fascinating look at Soviet hockey.