93% on Rotten Tomatoes and highly recommended.
Following the relatively recent news that Russia has apologised over the doping scandal that was uncovered by the McLaren report, the issue of doping in sport has never been more topical.
The IAAF have already intervened and banned Russia over evidence of state-sponsored doping, but with the eyes of the world recently watching the World Championships, the issue is yet again in the spotlight.
With Russia eagerly awaiting a decision from the World Anti-Doping Agency, now seems like the perfect time for Netflix to release Bryan Fogel’s superb documentary, Icarus.
The film starts out like Super Size Me as Fogel turns himself into a human guinea-pig by taking performance-enhancing drugs to prepare for a race. Basically, his hypothesis is that by taking drugs, he’ll ultimately win an upcoming race but the narrative completely changes.
If you think this documentary is solely about sport, you’re wrong.
By the end, the documentary is more like a political thriller as decades of corruption, scandal and cover ups come to the fore.
Ultimately, thanks to a slice of dumb luck, Fogel’s path crosses with a Russian doctor who ended up blowing the whistle on a state-sponsored doping scheme that had been ongoing in Russia for decades.
If you’re looking for something to watch that exposes decades of drug cheats and institutional corruption, Icarus is for you.
In one particular scene, the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Association of Athletics Federations didn’t see the mind-blowing revelations that were right in front of them.
Don’t fall into that trap, seek out Icarus on Netflix.
Plenty of people have already seen it and been blown away Fogel’s superb piece of work.
I highly recommend Icarus–a new Netflix documentary. About doping, but the real subtext exposes Putin's autocratic regime. Worth your time
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) August 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/JHorwill/status/895386175053213696
If you watch just one sports documentary in 2017, make it Icarus. Global release tomorrow, on Netflix. Just stunninghttps://t.co/IrG1PNhcrR
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) August 3, 2017
Icarus on Netflix: 10/10 recommend if documentaries about doping in sports get you lit
— Mattie Rogers (@mattie_rogers) August 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/zachbraff/status/895499834819362816
Just finished @bryanfogel's incredible #Icarus on @NetflixUK. Sublime, one of the best sports documentaries I've ever seen
— Ben Smith (@benpfsmith) August 9, 2017
Watching "Icarus" @netflix doc on doping. I realize now there is no way to know if playing field is level. But you CAN win clean. I do.
— Tianna Tashelle (@tianna_mad) August 4, 2017
For a true understanding of Putin's criminal mind, watch Icarus on August 8 on Netflix about Russian Olympic doping pic.twitter.com/c41oCWP6ln
— Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) August 3, 2017
