ABSTRACT
The Soviet film industry produced a number of sports dramas with specific focus on soccer since the 1930s. Sports films encouraged noble “manly” behavior, of which a healthy lifestyle was an integral part. The political framework of films such as Athletic Honor (Sportivnaia chest’, 1952) and The Benchwarmer (Zapasnoi igrok, released in the United States as The Boys from Leningrad, 1954) was internal, that is, these films and their didactic agenda were intended for Soviet audiences, not for export. In the first post-Soviet decade, the sports film virtually disappeared. However, during the Putin administration, sports films made a huge comeback. The hockey drama Legend #17 (Legenda 17, 2013) was personally endorsed by the Russian President. That film included a strong anti-Western stance, culminating in a victory of the Russian hockey team against the Canadians. In 2018, The Coach (Trener) by Danila Kozlovskii became a spectacular box office hit throughout Russia. The fact that this high-profile soccer film was released just weeks before the World Cup indicates strategic planning on the highest level. Typically for sports dramas, the film ends on a triumphant note, providing inspiration and pride in the potential of Russian soccer. This aspect represents an element of continuity vis-à-vis the Soviet sports film.
