#TIFF14: “RED ARMY”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

From Executive Producer Werner Herzog, this Documentary  provides insights on the differences  between the Soviets and the Americans in their training regimes. In this heart-wrenching Story, we learn that anyone playing for the Soviet Team was not allowed to live at home, they had to live on a Training Camp. Aside from the mental anguish that would inflict on anyone it was a proven strategy that worked to win games. However, it desecrated the hope of a Family life. Moreover, when Slava or any other player for that matter wanted to leave the Soviet Team and become a Player on the NHL, the Government had forbidden them and resistance would result in severe consequences. No one was above this Hierarchy, even someone who has won them gold medals. Nothing mattered more to the Soviets then keeping their players in Soviet Russia. Though as we know now, there are Russians in the NHL and Red Army highlights how that was able to be accomplished through Slava.

Even those of you who are not Fans of Hockey will  find great intrigue in its Story and the suffering which the Soviet Players had endured.  It is most certainly a Documentary worth checking-out for its honesty and it is a Film which needs to be seen.

RED ARMY screens Tuesday September 9, 2014  6 PM at Ryerson Theatre and Wednesday, September 10, 2014  11:45 AM at The Bloor Hot Docs Theatre.