The Russian Five review: rollercoaster sports story straight out of a spy novel

★★★★☆

At surface level, a documentary about how five Russian ice hockey players helped a team in Detroit reach success for the first time in decades does not sound very interesting. However, director Joshua Riehl presents it all to us in a way that would tug at the heartstrings of even the least sporty of us. Across a span of two decades, the Detroit Red Wings progressed from barely being able to call themselves a professional sports team in the early 1980s to back-to-back national champions by the end of the millennium. The Russian Five follows the ups-and-downs along this journey, from spy-novel-worthy defection tales to crushing losses to street parades; it creates a sense of togetherness unexpected of a group of Americans and Russians in the tail-end and aftermath of the Cold War.

While Riehl does an amazing job finding the perfect photos and archival footage, the storytelling would not have been the same without the inclusion of almost all of the people at the centre of the narrative. Players and coaches alike retell their perspectives on things as if they’re catching up with an old friend. Former player Sergei Fedorov (one of the stars of this story) smiles and laughs as he recalls the press blaming his team’s losses on having too many Russians. His old teammate Slava Kozlov seems as grumpy as ever, but still talks fondly of those years in Detroit with his countrymen changing the way ice hockey was played in America and winning trophies. Igor Larionov and Slava Fetisov, while featured less than their fellow Russians, provide their insight as more experienced players throughout these events. With interviews conducted in both English and Russian, it feels like these people are taking you along for the ride with them every step of the way.

Once the documentary moves past the bribery and back-door exits, we begin to follow our Russian players as they begin to put the city of Detroit back on the sports radar. From a playoff heartbreak in 1995 to an in-game brawl that brought the team together as a family, there isn’t a dull moment. Between tales, it becomes easier to understand why the city of Detroit loved this group so much; alongside being outstanding players, they’re all distinct characters who you just can’t help but like.

With occasional cuts to actor Jeff Daniels, we also gain insight into fans’ perspectives at the time. By the end of the hour-and-forty-minute documentary, it is easy to have felt the same range of emotions as Daniels describes from all those years ago. Its bittersweet ending involving a near-fatal car crash is enough to bring tears to the eyes of any viewer. While it’s a beautifully-made documentary overall that allows us a window into this exciting time for Detroit sports, it would have been slightly better if not for the ever-so-cheesy choice of “We Are the Champions” to accompany the celebratory scenes of winning for the first time in over four decades. Putting that aside, The Russian Five does what it set out to do; it does it well, too. Before watching, it would be easy to dismiss this as just another sports documentary. By the time the credits roll, Riehl has taken us on a journey of hardship and camaraderie, all culminating in success. A through-and-through underdog tale, even non-sports fans can find something in this to enjoy.

The Russian Five is available to rent/buy on Amazon