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Red Army is a documentary film from 2014 that tells the story of the Soviet Union's national hockey team, one of the greatest sports teams in history. This team was not just a collection of talented athletes, but a symbol of Soviet power and propaganda during the Cold War. The film follows the team from its origins in the 1950s to its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in the historic 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, where the team was defeated by the scrappy American team in the "Miracle on Ice."

The film is structured as a series of interviews with former players, coaches, and other figures from Soviet hockey history, interspersed with archival footage of the team in action. The most prominent interviewee is Viacheslav "Slava" Fetisov, the team captain and a legend of Soviet hockey. Through Fetisov's eyes, we see how the team was organized, trained, and run by the Soviet government. We also hear about the team's rivalries with other countries, especially Canada and the United States.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is the contrast between the glory of the team on the ice and the realities of life in the Soviet Union off the ice. We see footage of the team traveling to international tournaments in luxury planes and staying in lavish hotels, while back home in Moscow, people wait in long lines for basic necessities like bread and toilet paper. The film also touches on the political context of the time, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Chernobyl disaster.

Another key figure in the film is goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Tretiak was just 20 years old during the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union, a pivotal moment in international hockey that is discussed in detail in the film. Tretiak's rivalry with Canadian goaltender Ken Dryden is a major focus of the film, and we see how their battles on the ice reflected larger geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

The film is also notable for its exploration of the relationships between individual players and the Soviet system. We hear from players who defected to the West, like Sergei Makarov and Igor Larionov, who describe how they chafed under the strictures of Soviet hockey and longed for the freedom to express themselves on the ice. We also hear from players who stayed in the Soviet Union and continued to play despite the hardships, like Tretiak and Fetisov.

Throughout the film, we see how the Soviet hockey system was both a source of pride for the country and a tool of propaganda. The government poured vast resources into the team, seeing it as a way to demonstrate the superiority of Soviet society over the capitalist West. But at the same time, the film reveals the dark side of this system, including the way that players were subjected to intense pressure and scrutiny from coaches and officials. The film also touches on the tragic fate of a number of Soviet hockey players, who were killed in a plane crash in 2011.

Overall, Red Army is a powerful and compelling portrait of one of the greatest sports teams in history, as well as a fascinating look at the broader context of Soviet politics and culture during the Cold War. The film is expertly crafted, with stunning archival footage and insightful interviews that shed light on the human side of an iconic institution. Whether you're a fan of hockey or just interested in history and politics, Red Army is a must-see documentary that will leave a lasting impression.

Red Army is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 83.