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The story of “Miracle on Ice” is about to be told in a way never before seen.
Netflix releases its documentary “Miracle: The Boys of ’80” on Friday. It will feature never-before-seen footage of the American team as they prepared to take on the vaunted Soviets en route to a quest for gold that seemed unimaginable at first.
“It’s one of those indelible moments, those indelible stories that feel like if you could bring it back to life and reframe it in a new way, it would have resonance no matter when you did it,” said the film’s co-director Max Gershberg in a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital.
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Team USA players celebrate after defeating the USSR at the Olympic Fieldhouse at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York, February 22, 1980. (Eric Schweicardt/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
It’s not called the “Miracle on Ice” for nothing. But Gershberg and his co-director Jake Rogal knew it was important to appeal to the younger generation who may not realize it’s not just about a hockey game. The game took place in the middle of the Cold War, with extremely high global tensions, and the makers want everyone to remember that.
“I don’t think it’s meant to be overtly political, but I think there’s real power in a moment like this that has been so transcendent and unifying for a country. Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, whoever you are, whatever your background is, whatever part of the country you’re from, it was a moment where the country was really oppressed, and they needed something, and I think there’s real power in that.” Gershberg said.
“It’s really important, especially for younger generations who don’t know history very well. They need to understand that,” added Rogal, who also directed Netflix’s “The Last Dance” and, alongside Gershberg, “Court of Gold.” “But it’s rare now that you have a time that you can rally around. And so, I think it’s hard for people who are probably 20 and under to understand what it feels like because of social media and everyone watching things at different times.
Mike Eruzione participates in a faceoff ceremony before the start of a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of “Miracle on Ice”, February 22, 2020. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports)
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“At the time, it was a moment that everyone was watching. Everyone was coming together. So I think it’s important to show people what it looked like and what it’s like to come together and experience this unique moment. Knowing where America was at the time, it’s important to understand that it needed this moment. This moment was important to everyone, whether you worked in construction or finance, it was something that everyone around was coming together and I think it’s important to understand where the country was in order to emphasize that point.”
Gershberg and Rogal both pointed out that these days, Americans too often come together in the wake of tragedy. But on February 22, 1980, Americans came together to celebrate an accomplishment.
“Today, we’re certainly not immune to disagreeing about anything and everything and feeling some discord in our society. So I think it’s just fun and uplifting to see that a moment like this is possible,” Gershberg said. “It’s just an iconic, indelible moment in American cultural history. And whether you’re a hockey fan or not, we want people to see it in a new light, to appreciate it, to learn, again, in gripping new detail about who these guys were. They were boys back then playing on this powerful, invincible Soviet team. And I hope that this, whether you know this story or not, will bring it to life in an exciting way for you. “
Jim Craig celebrates the victory of the American team against the USSR on February 22, 1980. (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“Just the ability to rally around a positive moment, that really doesn’t happen anymore. Something good happens and people destroy it. And I think there was a time when something good happened and everyone was excited about it, and that’s it. You couldn’t dig through people’s Twitter histories or see who was saying what in the past. It was just like, this thing that was cool happened and meant a lot for us, and we all felt it, I think it’s cool to see it again because it doesn’t happen anymore,” Rogal said.
“And I think that makes it pretty special.”
