Director Gabe Polsky on incredible documentary 'Red Army'

“In any society when you’re different, as a kid you’re always trying to hide that”, says Red Army director Gabe Polsky. “My parents had an accent, and it wasn’t cool to have that background.”

Born in Chicago, Illinois, 1979 to Soviet parents, Polsky studied at Yale University where he enrolled on the hockey team. After receiving a VHS of the notorious Soviet Union v. USA game of 1980, he had grown attached to the sport. “I was mind-blown,” says Polsky. “I couldn’t believe how creative they were on the ice and how different their style of play was, compared to what I was being taught in the United States.” Having built a career as a producer – Bad Lieutenant, Little Birds – Red Army marks Polsky’s documentary debut following his 2012 feature film The Motel Life. “I wanted to know who these guys were, how they got so good and what they were doing over there.”

In 1978, the Soviet Union hockey team – known as the ‘Red Army’ – were identified as “the best of the best” in the world of winter sports. The team made history by spurring to victory against Canada over five games in the same year. However, after a prolific winning streak, the Red Army endured a severe blow when they lost against the USA at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980: coinciding with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and upcoming collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite enrolling in the west, and winning gold numerous times, the team were never able to shake off their notorious defeat.

“All anyone remembers is that they were beaten by Canada in 1980,” says Polsky. “There’s so much more to learn about this underdog story – they lost one game, but that’s not really the interesting part.”

Red Army examines the unique story of the prestigious Soviet Union hockey team made up of five of the sport’s most talented players, also known as ‘The Russian Five’: Alexei Kasatonov, Sergei Makarov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Krutov and Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov. Retired Russian ice hockey gold medallist and former player for the National Hockey League, Fetisov is also the primary subject for Polsky’s film. “What he went through on a personal level and representing society at that time became an incredibly personal story for Slava.”

During a particularly poignant scene in the film, Fetisov watches the infamous 1980 Soviet v USA game at the Lake Placid Olympics. Polsky recounts, “He just didn’t want to talk about it: it was such a painful experience for him with so many different emotions.”

Fetisov was far from obliging to be a part of this film from the beginning. “Initially he was sceptical thinking ‘what does this American know about the Soviet Union?’” recounts Polsky. Unexpectedly, on the last day of shooting in Russia, Fetisov agreed. “He finally realised that I was doing something different, and he started to open up. As soon as I interviewed him, the whole concept of the film changed to a degree.”

Polsky reunites with Bad Lieutenant director Werner Herzog, who takes on the role of producer. “I liked to show him things that I’m doing and showed him this as I was finishing up towards the end,” says Polsky. “Werner told me that this is a very special movie and that I should be confident with it. Him saying that this movie was special gave me confidence: what he says I really believe.”

Red Army premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and a standing ovation. The film would subsequently screen at the Moscow International Film Festival, an event that Polsky was far more nervous about attending. “I think I was the only American there”, he says. “If the Russians didn’t like it I wouldn’t have considered the movie a success: it had to feel real to the people who experienced it.”

Polsky identifies Red Army as: “A very deep story about the Russian soul and what the team, players and country were going through.” He adds, “The team was a reflection of society: it demonstrated xhow sports were used as a political tool and how different society was back then – it’s just an incredible story.”

Told through interviews, exclusive footage and personal photography, the charm of the film lies under Polsky’s leading man. Polsky and Fetisov develop a respectable and trusting relationship onscreen, despite the initial hostility. “He lived a tough life and stood up to a lot of stuff, which would naturally make you a little rough around the ages.”