The Documentary Film Group will be gathering one afternoon each month to discuss a documentary film. The documentaries are all available on Netflix unless noted otherwise and participants should watch the documentary selection before coming to the meeting where we will discuss the film. Our schedule for the next few months will be available shortly.
THE MARCH FILM IS "ICARUS", Directed by Brian Fogel A major Olympic cheating scandal is uncovered by accident by an American documentary filmmaker and a Russian scientist, when they realize their combined knowledge points fingers at Russia's secret sports doping program. Icarus is a 2017 documentary film by Bryan Fogel which chronicles Fogel exploring the option of doping to win an amateur cycling race and happening upon a major international doping scandal when he asks for the help of Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory.
"Bemused and bewildered by the fuss that had surrounded the outing of superstar champion cyclist Lance Armstrong as a cheater – who had, despite denials, used performance-enhancing drugs – Fogel wanted to prove something. Specifically, he wanted to show that the entire anti-doping process was nonsense. If Armstrong could fool the system repeatedly, then the system was bogus. Icarus (now streaming on Netflix) is Fogel's bizarre and highly illuminating documentary account of what he did and why he did it. Without knowing it, he cycled himself into the centre of the international controversy about Russia's doping procedures. And he had the central figure in the huge drama helping him." ---John Doyle "....Not to mention an Academy Award nomination, a record-shattering Netflix deal and a ready-made sequel: A declassified U.S. intelligence reportconcluded that Russia hacked the presidential election in retaliation for U.S. involvement in unveiling its doping program. In other words, because of what's revealed in this film. Tired of waiting for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report? A Russia investigation every bit as historic is playing on Netflix right now." ---Rick Kisonak Questions: This month, Contact Laura Mendelsohn at la95mend@gmail.com or at 317-902-8977.
If you would like to nominate a documentary film for discussion, please send your suggestions to Norma Gindes at normagindes@gmail.com.