Icarus
Truth is the new banned substance.
Overview
While investigating the furtive world of illegal doping in sports, director Bryan Fogel connects with renegade Russian scientist Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov—a pillar of his country’s “anti-doping” program. Over dozens of Skype calls, urine samples, and badly administered hormone injections, Fogel and Rodchenkov grow closer despite shocking allegations that place Rodchenkov at the center of Russia’s state-sponsored Olympic doping program.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Released during the height of doping scandals in sports, Icarus sheds light on Russia's state-sponsored doping program and its impact on the Olympic Games. The film serves as a cautionary tale about ethics in sports and political manipulation.
- The film offers a unique blend of science, politics, and investigative journalism that keeps the audience engaged.
- Icarus provides an educational yet entertaining journey into the world of doping in sports and its consequences.
- The movie showcases a remarkable true story that unfolds like a thriller, making it hard to look away.
- Bryan Fogel's transformation from an amateur cyclist to a Grander Prix competitor is captivating and inspiring.
Fun Facts
- The initial goal of the project was to create a documentary about performance-enhancing drugs in long-distance running, but it evolved into an exposé on Russia's doping program after a serendipitous encounter with scientist Grigory Rodchenkov.
- Icarus won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Oscars in 2018, ironically highlighting the film's criticism of Russia's Olympic doping scandal.
- The movie features interviews with numerous high-profile athletes, including Lance Armstrong, who himself had been embroiled in a major doping controversy.