Icarus
Icarus

Movie spotlight

Icarus

2017
Movie
30 min
Mandarin

Kai wants to become a pastor, following his father's footsteps, which causes a misunderstanding between Kai and his closeted boyfriend Jay. On the other hand, Jay is thinking about going abroad for his training in the soccer team. They find themselves struggling with each other's choice.

Insights

IMDb7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Metacritic77/100
Google Users89%
Director: Bryan FogelGenres: Documentary, Crime, Sport

Plot Summary

In 2014, amateur cyclist and filmmaker Bryan Fogel set out to cheat his way through a doping-free race at the Tour de France. He enlists the help of Grigory Rodchenkov, a Russian scientist at the heart of the country's state-sponsored doping program. What begins as a personal experiment quickly spirals into a geopolitical thriller as Rodchenkov becomes a whistleblower, exposing the vast scale of Russia's illicit doping operations. The film documents Rodchenkov's dramatic escape and subsequent life in hiding as he becomes a target of international manhunt.

Critical Reception

Icarus received widespread critical acclaim for its shocking revelations, compelling narrative, and timely subject matter. Critics praised its ability to transition from a personal quest to a high-stakes international exposé, highlighting the bravery of its central figures and the meticulous documentation of a massive scandal.

What Reviewers Say

  • A shocking and urgent documentary that reveals a vast doping conspiracy.

  • Harrowing, thrilling, and expertly crafted, it plays like a spy thriller.

  • Masterfully documents the human cost of state-sponsored cheating.

Google audience: Audience reviews frequently commend the film for its incredible real-life thriller narrative and the sheer audacity of the doping scandal it uncovers. Viewers are often surprised by the dramatic twists and turns, highlighting how the documentary effectively exposes corruption at the highest levels of international sport.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Academy Awards.

Fun Fact

Director Bryan Fogel originally intended 'Icarus' to be a lighthearted personal experiment about doping, but the film's direction dramatically shifted when Grigory Rodchenkov became a whistleblower.

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