Day 67 Icarus [2017 Documentary]
Director Bryan
Fogel
Cinematography Jane
Swantko & Timothy Rode
Music Composition Adam
Peters
Subject Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov
exposes the extent of doping among Russia’s top athletes
Production Alex
Productions, Diamond Docs, Impact Partners
IMDb 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Another incredible film that proves much luck is
needed when you are trying to make a good documentary. Bryan Fogel was trying
to make a documentary about how easy it was to beat the drug tests in amateur
sport. He is a keen cyclist and takes part in a prestigious amateur cycling
race which he struggles in. He then endeavours to take part in a doping
programme that will help him perform better in the next year’s race and enlists
the help of some scientists, they refer him to Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the head
of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory. Fogel found his gold dust. Rodchenkov does
not shy away from the cameras, and the fact that Fogel is so interested in
doping and in Rodchenkov’s work seems to spur him on. The documentary goes from
a personal experiment to a geopolitical thriller in a heartbeat. Rodchenkov
exposes his own involvement in Russian Olympic doping, as well as explaining
that everyone up the chain of the command also knew what was going on, even
Vladimir Putin. It is a thrilling documentary, helped along by Rodchenkov’s
crazy personality and willingness to expose his country’s crimes. Fogel is
charmed all too easily by Rodchenkov, which means the doc loses its own
personality, but it certainly sweeps the audience up in the story too. You feel
like you also know things you shouldn’t, and the feeling of unease is palpable
when Rodchenkov starts talking about the disappearances and deaths of a few of
his colleagues. Suddenly you realise how much Fogel and Rodchenkov are putting
on the line, as Rodchenkov turns whistle-blower and is eventually taken into
protective custody. Perhaps slightly too long, and Fogel also is too swept up
by Rodchenkov’s charm, but otherwise it is fascinating.
Subject Matter 3.5
/ 4
Shock Factor 3
/ 4
Production 3
/ 4
Music 2
/ 4
HMD rating 3.5 / 4