In 1956, the fall of a red flag turned a boy into a saviour, the child diving into the path of running bulls to rescue a stranded puppy. In 1967, a red scarf turned a prospect into a player, waving in the wake of his fast and furious rink escapades. In 1972, a red uniform turned a star into a legend, even as it adorned his opposition. The place was Montreal; the game saw the Soviet Union face off against Canada during the Summit Series; the man, spurned on by an imposing opponent to change the course of hockey history, was Valery Harlamov (Danila Kozlovskiy, Gulf Stream Under the Iceberg).
Taking its name from his guernsey number, Legend No. 17 (Легенда No. 17) tells the tale that exists in between Harlamov’s life-defining moments. His Spanish mother instilled in him a fiery temperament, his Russian father offered support of his dreams, and his own determination saw him become an international icon. Of course, the path to sporting glory was far from straightforward, particularly under the tutelage of a coach – Anatoli Tarasov (Oleg Menshikov, Burnt by the Sun 2), considered ‘the father of Russian hockey’ – known for his unusual and grueling training techniques. The outcome may be dictated by its title, but the feature revels in Harlamov’s journey.
In his latest high-profile effort within his home country, director Nikolai Lebedev draws upon his background in action (Soundtrack of Passion), fantasy (Wolfhound), thriller (The Iris Effect), and historical (The Star) efforts to craft a film imbued with the features of all four. His flitting from one genre to the next in the unraveling of Harlamov’s real-life story is seamless, traversing the ups and downs of his subject’s career. His immersion in the immediacy of game play, valuing closely framed, constantly moving scenes, builds suspense as well as character.
It is in the latter that Legend No. 17 finds its footing, its prolonged 134-minute running time otherwise predicated upon the minutiae of Harlamov’s ascension to fame. On the ice, Legend No. 17 glides with confidence; off the rink, it dwells in melodrama. Repetition runs rampant as several against-the-odds scenarios, practice montages, and spirited fights for a place in the team ensure the audience is always aware of the protagonist’s underdog status. The helmer’s clumsy penchant for broad strokes doesn’t end there, with the narrative reframing events and playing with time for added emotional emphasis.
Such heavy-handedness, blunt and brazen as it is, almost earns a place in the rousing finale, when the energy of triumph overcomes all. Kozlovskiy’s many unhappy faces finally find a reason to smile, his performance bettered by the range of warmer moments. Indeed, the conclusion offers a culmination of skill glimpsed all-too-fleetingly in the preceding film. It takes more than the tale of a hero to craft a successful biopic; Legend No. 17 possesses the enthusiasm, but wavers in the execution.
Rating: 3
Legend No. 17 (Легенда No. 17)
Director: Nikolai Lebedev
Russia, 2013, 134 mins
Russian Resurrection Film Festival
http://russianresurrection.com/2013
Melbourne: 3 – 16 July
Canberra: 16 – 21 July
Sydney: 24 July – 7 August
Brisbane: 26 July – 4 August
Perth: 1 – 11 August
Byron Bay: 2 – 4 August
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