Skip to main content

Legend Nº 17 (2013)

Legend Nº 17 (2013) movie poster

Legend nº17 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.


K: “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!

F: 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
F: Don't come singing Putin Huylo around my blog XD

K: 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!

F: 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
F: Uuuuuuugly
K: 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!

F: 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!
 

F: 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
F: I wonder if my favorite scene ever happened
K: 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!”

F: 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.

Freddy's Score: 70/100
Krasnaya Score: 87/100

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...

Deep Cover (2025)

Plot Summary: An improv comedy teacher (Bryce Dallas Howard) and two of her students (Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) are recruited by a corrupt cop (Sean Bean) to go undercover. They infiltrate London's criminal world, using their acting skills to catch a gang, only to find themselves deeper in danger and needing to improvise their way out. Director: Tom Kingsley Screenplay: Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen Producers: Colin Trevorrow, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Music: Daniel Pemberton Cinematography: Will Hanke Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat Boyles Orlando Bloom as Marlon Swift Nick Mohammed as Hugh Sean Bean as DS Graham Billings Paddy Considine as Fly Ian McShane as Metcalfe Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh Studio / Distributor: Metronome Film Company, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation / Amazon Prime Video ...

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...

Friendship (2024)

Plot Summary: Suburban dad Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) becomes obsessed with new neighbor Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). A quirky bromance spirals into a cringe-filled, emotional unraveling as Craig struggles with boundaries and rejection. Director & Writer: Andrew DeYoung Producer(s): Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Johnny Holland, Nick Weidenfeld Music: Keegan DeWitt Cinematography: Andy Rydzewski Editing: Sophie Corra Starring: Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael Kate Mara as Tami Waterman Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey and others   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Wild Ride into Unhinged Genius Alright, instant noodles, shrimp flavor, done. Now for the actual love letter to Friendship, that magnificent, fucked-up black comedy that quite literally brought Tim R...

Moana 2 (2024)

Plot Summary: Moana, now a master wayfinder, sets sail with her new crew to restore the lost island Motufetu and reconnect ocean tribes. Directors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Producers: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino (with Jennifer Lee credited on fandom) Screenplay: Written by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller; story by Bush, Miller & Bek Smith Starring (voice cast): Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Hualālai Chung as Moni Rose Matafeo as Loto David Fane as Kele Awhimai Fraser as Matangi Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea Alan Tudyk as Heihei Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui Nicole Scherzinger as Sina   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Back to the Ocean, But With Cautious Toes Saturday after lunch, full belly, and we hit play on Moana 2. If you’ve read my love letter to the first movie, you know it h...

Europe's Lithium Paradox (2025)

Plot Summary: This eye-opening documentary explores Europe's struggle to harness its own lithium resources for clean energy. Although rich in lithium reserves, the continent relies heavily on imports. The film examines environmental concerns, community resistance, and growing calls for sustainable and socially responsible mining practices. Director: Stijn van Baarle Presenter: Peter Tom Jones Production Company: Journeyman Pictures, Storyrunner, SIM² KU Leuven Runtime: 56 minutes Original Language: English Featuring: Peter Tom Jones (Self)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions from the Portuguese Trenches Let me just say it straight: this documentary is a slap in the face. We’re being f*cked over. Our land, our hills, our Barroso, is getting auctioned off to some British company that plans to drill hole after miserable hole like it's a goddamn dartbo...