Ledokol (The Icebreaker)

Ledokol (The Icebreaker)

Ice Breaker is both a feature length film about the Canada/USSR hockey series, which altered the future of hockey as we know it. The film premiered in Perth on the 6th of September, Tuesday at the Studio Theatre. Perth local and author of the book Ice War Diplomat, Gary Smith who was a Russian speaking Canadian diplomat in the Soviet Union of that era.

He was a diplomat who helped in setting up the hockey series with Russia. Many parts of the movie were inspired by parts of his said biography. The biography, which Edith Cody-Rice presented in the Millstone News, caused the invite to the premiere to be extended by the relevant authorities. “Ice War Diplomat is an interesting read and a good tool to market Canadian diplomacy.” Edith Cody-Rice, Millstone News.

In an effort to mark the 50th year since this momentous occasion, two Canadian filmmakers Robbie Hart of Adobe Productions International in Montreal and Peter Raymont of White Pine Pictures in Toronto came together to create a revolutionary documentary feature ICE-BREAKER The ’72 Summit Series. The documentary has suspense as it reviews the games and the viewership, press, critical participants and the Soviets, as the events unfolded. It was like I was in the audience once more, going through all those emotions through which the series took me.

The feelings of the times are present thanks to archival game videos, interviews with hockey icons like Gretzky, Esposito, and Eagleson, and several Soviet hockey players including goalie Vladislav Tretiak. Canadian fans who watched the entire tournament then add memories to the film. The film recalls the era of black and white TV and Canadians gathered around TV sets for the final match. It was about the summit, the King himself – Wayne Gretzky raised the Cup, calling it ‘The greatest hockey ever played’.

Regarding how they are interrelated, Icebreaker is a successful title in many respects. United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and Canada were meeting on ice; no one anticipated that such encounter took place. The movie seeks to highlight the notion that the Soviet Union was to ultimately be humiliated in all encounters. The film depicts that there were real battles between communism and capitalism.

Our superiority complex had to be put in place as we came to the realization that we weren’t the only ones that could play hockey. Hockey was changed for the worse by the end of the first game. We were not supposed to win. Tretiak commented that “Hockey was a game of Canadian and of Russian origin”. At the conclusion of the games, a handshake was exchanged and a mutual recognition of each others’ humanity occurred.

Ice Breaker brings out that the notion of ‘Canada team’ was still rudimentary. Many Canadians played for teams that were against each other with an extreme loathe. To defeat the Russians, it took a lot of time to incorporate together in oneness with a purpose. A few players departed the competition as they experienced too little action. There were open jeers directed at Canadians in Vancouver.

The Canadians did not play fair and focused on the Russian goalie, breaking the ankle of the best Soviet player who couldn’t play the last three games. Slowly the question which every Canadian now wanted to ask, now had the bases. Did we have the capacity of reversing the Soviets in a clean game? After the 72 series, the concept of Team Canada was accepted like a trend. Kids who practiced on the ice, envisioned being part of Montreal, Toronto or the Canadian national team.

Most likely, the Canadian journalists will be covering the gutsy or tenacious nature of the Canadians in the games, for example the amazing supporters from Canada in Moscow, the come-from-behind wins in the final three games, and how the miracle of Paul Henderson at the end who scored last second goals that gave Canada the victory of the tournament. I was, however, quite moved by the human face and the feelings of the Russians exposed in the picture.

Soviet players described winning the first game as the biggest shock and a wonderful dream that left them relaxed and over-confident for the second game. One hundred and fifty million viewers across 11 time zones and the Soviet army and state officials occupied the stands in Moscow Leicester Square. The difference between the Canadian fans who were hugely loud and cheering and the Soviet on the other hand who were silent was clear to everybody.

The ballet was poorly attended and the Canadians saw the first half of the program in the interests of courtesy. As the party was leaving, the other one of the dancers, ballerina Prima Esposito, saluted the beautiful bow and danced for the audience. In the last game, the ballerina came to motivate Esposito. Esposito saw her and got a goal as well as two assists following that.

This time the Soviet journalists were jokingly saying it was in fact her fault that Canada was able to take the match! The Soviet participants interviewed, Igor Larionov, Boris Mikhailov, and Alexander Yakushev, were the won who praised the games and the Canadians. Tretiak claimed that it was ‘the ice game of hockey’ that truly was the winner in this contest. Following the Tarasov system, the style of hockey of the Soviet has survived upto now in its improvement of the game. Tretiak is a member of the hockey hall of fame. Ending in chasing down Henderson there. Politics has no need in hockey.

This year was marked with the anniversary of 72 the series where both Canada as well as Russia was present. The aggression of Ukraine has destroyed all hopes of mutual appreciation for the importance of the 72 games and their impact on hockey’s development.

I do not understand the outcome of fighting but I understand that fighting obliterates people and their bonds. We have returned to the cold war state.

Ice Breaker is focused on showing the people of Russia, not their area leaders as was intended. Hockey could also be used to help the two sides have meaningful discussions once again. Or it is possible that the film has some message for the future. Quite simply, the conversation begins when we regard each other as people.

For more movies Visit Gomovies.