Skip to main content

Legend NΒΊ 17 (2013)


Legend nΒΊ17 is a 2013 Russian biopic film directed by Nikolai Lebedev starring Danila Kozlovsky as Valeri Kharlamov and Oleg Menshikov as Anatoliy Tarasov. It was produced by Trite Studio. The film is based on real events and tells of the rise to fame of the Soviet hockey player Valeri Kharlamov and about the first match of the Summit Series USSR — Canada 1972. The film was awarded with six Golden Eagle, including as the best Russian film of the year. The filmmakers received the State Prize of the Russian Federation for the year 2013 in 2014. The movie has been described as a personal favourite of Vladimir Putin.

Biopic of Russian ice hockey legend Valeri Kharlamov from early childhood, rising to the pinnacle of the sport and his untimely death.

Freddy and Krasnaya Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

The Rise of a Russian Hockey Legend


KRASNAYA:
“Legend 17” is an inspiring and "spiritualized" film about a legend, ice hockey forward “little golden” boy Valeri, who had a dream… to be the best player and beat Canada's hockey team one day!
FREDDY:
First of all, I would like to thank my dear friend Nika for showing me this movie and for bringing me closer to my hero, Vladimir Putin, who is a great fan of the film. Why is he my hero? I did a little explanatory image montage explaining why:
Putin Animal Compilation
Don't come singing Putin Huylo around my blog XD

Patriotism, Pride, and the '72 Summit Series


KRASNAYA:
The movie starts in Spain with a Running of the Bulls episode where little Valeri saves a little puppy’s life despite the danger of himself getting trampled. After that scene you have no idea of what’s going on… hot Spain, cold Russia. If you are Russian, everything in “Legend 17” makes you feel proud of Russia (Soviet Russia) and if you aren’t Russian, you can definitely feel the winners’ spirit! After all, we’re the nation that beat Napoleon and Hitler (Freddy’s words ahah). About the picture… you’re totally immersed in the Soviet atmosphere, and everything is made without any flaws! So your pride grows, slowly building from Chebarkul’, through pain, failure, insult, ridicule, love, honesty, hope, and so on… But something still smells American, right? Yep! In some ways, Legend 17 is a hypertrophic story about achieving a dream, and you just can’t stop watching it… The coach’s words “Defend the gates, defend them as a child!” That made me feel goose bumps! The actors! They are all magnificent, each one perfectly cast! The film focused on two legends – Valeri Kharlamov (Danila Kozlovski) and Anatoli Tarasov (Oleg Menshikov)… the roles are amazingly played by these actors…. You just feel ready to get up and defend when Oleg’s Menshikov eyes are staring at you through the screen!
FREDDY:
My blog is just full of Russian patriotism now! Ahaha, love it. Krasnaya just took over this place. Prepare for a lot more Russian movies coming in!
ugly bobby clark
Uuuuuuugly

The True Story Behind the Game


KRASNAYA:
The director found good ways to express the emotions of the main characters – the confrontation between the bull and matador while the game between Russians and Canadians is played; Tarasov who couldn’t stay with CSKA playing spiritual and shamanistic hockey in the yard next to his house… Also, while watching the main game I was asking myself why do we do, such silly things like showing Canadians as wild animals and chewing gum all the time as it looks ridiculous, funny AND disgusting! Until you watch the real game in 1972 where the Canadians looked even more wild and self-confident, even playing the death march tune in advance!
FREDDY:
Well, I’m leaving the video of the real game beneath so that you guys can check it out. Canadians were acting like real arrogant pricks ahah, they didn’t even use their helmets!

FREDDY:
About the movie now. I don't care much about ice hockey, so I was a little reluctant about watching this one, but it turned out to be a very entertaining and really great movie! The two main actors were awesome, with Danila as Valeri and Oleg as the "father of Russian hockey", Tarasov. I enjoyed the CGI stuff that everyone says is shit, and I got to learn some stuff about hockey history and how the Ruskies beat Canada back in '72. I just don't understand why they didn’t include the info that Kharlamov died in a car accident when he was 33 years old. Just a little info at the end wouldn't have hurt.
Russians hanging on a wire
I wonder if my favorite scene ever happened

KRASNAYA:
It’s a great movie which makes you appreciate THE TEACHER, the one who gives you his soul and kicks your ass too! So “Love and play, and make your choices every day!”
FREDDY:
If you have never watched a Russian flick and you want to try something new but you're too afraid of leaving Hollywood, give this one a chance, you'll not regret it.

Krasnaya's Score

87/100

Freddy's Score

70/100
More from Cine It

Historical Movies List

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Celebration (1998)

Plot Summary: A wealthy Danish patriarch gathers his family at his remote country hotel to celebrate his 60th birthday. His eldest son, Christian, uses the celebratory toast to drop a bomb: a public accusation of childhood sexual abuse. The family proceeds to completely implode. Danish Title: Festen Director: Thomas Vinterberg (uncredited, per the rules of Dogme 95) Writers: Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle Editing: ValdΓ­s Γ“skarsdΓ³ttir Music: Lars Bo Jensen Starring: Ulrich Thomsen as Christian Klingenfeldt-Hansen Henning Moritzen as Helge, Christian's father Thomas Bo Larsen as Michael, Christian's brother Paprika Steen as Helene, Christian's sister Birthe Neumann as Else, Christian's mother Trine Dyrholm as Pia, the waiter close to Christian   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ A 9...

After Yang (2021)

After Yang is a 2021 American science fiction drama film adaptation written, directed, and edited by Kogonada. It stars Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, and Haley Lu Richardson. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on July 8, 2021 before having its North American premiere on January 21, 2022 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Yang In a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633464/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Melancholic and Thought-Provoking AI Drama F: Hello dear readers! Our second movie of the week is"After Yang", a thought-provoking and emotional film set in a peaceful and harmonious future society. It follows Jake as he struggles with the decommissioning of his adopt...

The Idiots (1998)

Plot Summary: A group of able-bodied adults living in a commune on the outskirts of Copenhagen spend their days pretending to be mentally disabled in public, a practice they call "spazzing." When a quiet, reserved woman named Karen wanders into their world, the group's provocations begin to unravel into something far more raw and devastating. Danish Title: Idioterne Director: Lars von Trier (uncredited; under Dogme 95 rules) Writer: Lars von Trier Producer: Vibeke WindelΓΈv Starring: Bodil JΓΈrgensen as Karen Jens Albinus as Stoffer Anne Louise Hassing as Susanne Troels Lyby as Henrik Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Jeppe Louise Mieritz as Josephine Henrik Prip as Ped   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ Diving into the Dogma (and the Depravity) Hello dear reader! Today I found some time to write a review on last night's movie, The Idiots (1998...

Sentimental Value (2025)

Plot Summary: A film director wants to make a movie. His family has feelings about it. Two hours and thirteen minutes pass. Acclaimed by everyone except me. Norwegian Title: Affeksjonsverdi Director: Joachim Trier Writers: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier Producers: Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar Cinematography: Kasper Tuxen Editing: Olivier Bugge CouttΓ© Music: Hania Rani Starring: Renate Reinsve as Nora Borg Stellan SkarsgΓ₯rd as Gustav Borg Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes Borg Pettersen Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp Anders Danielsen Lie as Jakob Jesper Christensen as Michael   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ A Universally Acclaimed Snoozefest Today I bring you the movie... let me check my notes again. Ah, right: Sentimental Value. What a boooooring movie. That's it, thank you for reading. But seriously, le...

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Plot Summary: In 1940s Shanghai, a wannabe gangster named Sing aspires to join the notorious Axe Gang. His bungled attempt to extort the residents of Pig Sty Alley inadvertently leads to a gang war that gradually reveals surprising martial arts masters hiding among the slum's humble residents. Directors: Stephen Chow Writers: Stephen Chow, Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, Tsang Kan-cheung Story by: Stephen Chow Cinematography: Poon Hang-sang Edited by: Angie Lam Music by: Raymond Wong Starring: Stephen Chow as Sing Danny Chan as Brother Sum Yuen Qiu as Landlady Yuen Wah as Landlord Leung Siu-lung as Beast Xing Yu as Coolie Chiu Chi-ling as Tailor Dong Zhihua as Donut Lam Chi-chung as Bone Huang Shengyi as Fong Tin Kai-man as Adviser Gar Hong-hay and Fung Hak-on as Harpists Introduction: A ...

The Gambler (1974)

The Gambler is a 1974 American crime drama film written by James Toback and directed by Karel Reisz. It stars James Caan, Paul Sorvino and Lauren Hutton. Caan's performance was widely lauded and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Some see the film as a loose adaptation of the short 1866 novel The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambler_(1974_film) Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally some bad guys that chase him. Despite all of this, he cannot stop gambling. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071532/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Sharp Character Study of Self-Destruction KRASNAYA: Fourth in line in our tribute to James Caan is The Gambler, a 1974 crime drama filmed by Karel Reisz. The screenplay for the film was written by James Toback. He wrote his own story...