5 Soviet movies about sports that are worth watching

The USSR had strong schools of sports and cinematography. A lot of time was devoted to educating young people and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Sport was always filled with success stories, romance and trials that every athlete went through.

“Dolly,” 1988

What the movie is about: if you or your relatives were once involved in professional sports, then 100% you will feel the drama that the filmmakers are talking about. The movie is about life after sports and the fact that a person suddenly became useless to no one, although he was loved and adored while he was at the height of his fame. At this point, the hero is forced to adapt his psyche to the most ordinary life, which, unfortunately, is absolutely impossible.

The heroine of the movie is a young gymnast. After an injury she is forced to finish her performances and turn from a successful athlete into an ordinary schoolgirl. Her attempts to assert herself push her to terrible and rash actions.

Why watch: This movie will allow you to understand the other side of big sports and appreciate the feelings of a person who had to give up her dreams.

Age restriction: 16+

“The New Girl, 1969

What the movie is about: in the story a new athlete Valya comes to the USSR national gymnastics team. Olga Kameneva, a veteran of the team, takes her under her wing, and soon realizes that her age no longer allows her to perform at the same level. The coach also realizes the obvious state of affairs and for the upcoming competitions includes the new girl in the team instead of Olga.

Why watch: the actors of this feature film were invited not only professional artists, but also real athletes of that time – the USSR national gymnastics team. The performer of the main role was a real, high-class gymnast Irina Eliseeva.

Among other things, cameos in the film were played by Lyudmila Turishcheva, Larisa Petrik, Olga Karasyova, which makes “Novenkaya” an adaptation of the sports era of the union of the 60s. Seeing this movie is definitely worth it.

Age restriction: 12+

“The Goalie,” 1936

A still from the movie “The Goalkeeper”

What the movie is about: a “classic” success story that took place thanks to sports, contemporaries will say. But at that time it could hardly be classical.

The main character of the movie, Anton Kandinov, drives watermelons along the Volga. Watching how he professionally catches berries and loads them into the boat, he is offered to try himself in soccer. Comedy based on the script by Lev Kassil with musical accompaniment by Isaak Dunayevsky.

Why watch: a kind, sporty and life-affirming movie about an ordinary guy who became a famous soccer goalkeeper. The role of Anton was a real debut for Gennady Pluzhnikov, which brought him all-union fame.

Here, as in “Novenka”, the creators approached the roles thoroughly, and the movie also involved professional athletes. Episodically, for example, the players of the team “Black Buffaloes” played players of the Kiev “Dynamo” of that time.

Age restriction: 0+

“Grandmaster”, 1972

A still from the movie “The Grandmaster”

What the movie is about: the movie has a rather complicated history and fate. Usually it is not remembered, and it was not honored with big awards. Everything happened because of the departure from the USSR of chess player Korchnoi, who played one of the roles in the movie. Unfortunately, after that the movie was removed from distribution. The picture turned out to be authorial, personal and deep.

According to the plot, we observe the dramatic story of the life of a man for whom chess was everything that supported life. From the first minutes of his father’s appearance in the frame, the viewer is plunged into a complex psychological situation, in which there is a place for personal feelings and thoughts about chess.

Why watch: the movieis deep, intense, but cold and touching at the same time. It is important that Mikaelian managed to show chess as a dynamic sport, which is not an easy thing to do.

Age restriction: 16+

“Vertical”, 1966

A still from the movie “Vertical”

What the movie is about: a movieabout beautiful but very dangerous mountains, which we don’t always take seriously. Wonderful camerawork and legendary songs by Vysotsky convey the atmosphere of the mountain world very well.

Why watch: here, as above, is about people, their desires, ambitions and choices. For all its artistry, this movie teaches the viewer how not to behave in the mountains.

Age restriction: 0+