Occasionally, you'll find yourself in the mood to explore a darker, dirtier, or sexier side of life on-screen. Whether you're looking to celebrate Black History Month, Valentine's Day, or life itself, we've found the best Netflix documentaries for you to watch. Regardless of how familiar you are with Russian history, you've likely heard of the Romanov family. Years later, in 2007, the remains of Maria and Alexei were discovered and subsequently identified as Romanovs. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Their identities have been contested by members of the Russian Orthodox Church, however, and their bodies have remained in a state archive since. UNLIMITED TV SHOWS & MOVIES. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Only time will tell what will happen with them — and if the Romanov family will finally be reunited. By the 1910s, Czar Nicholas and his wife had already become incredibly unpopular in their own country. In a pernicious twist, Rodchenkov says in the film that his special access to the London 2012 laboratory -- a courtesy granted because of his upcoming role in directing the Sochi lab -- was critical to his ability to help Russian athletes beat tests in London and Sochi. He was Fogel's original muse, having gotten away with so much for so long. He enters the documentary as an earthy, savvy rogue who gleefully assists filmmaker and amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel in a performance-enhancing experiment. As an outgrowth of their experience with Rodchenkov, Stier and others -- including "Icarus" co-producer and venture capitalist Jim Swartz and Olympic speed skating champion and philanthropist Johann Koss -- established FairSport, a nonprofit foundation for whistleblower support and athletes' rights. Outside the ongoing suspension of the Russian track and field federation, it remains to be seen whether there will be tangible consequences for cheating that touched more than two dozen summer, winter and Paralympic sports, according to evidence gathered by law professor and independent investigator Richard McLaren. On March 15 of that year, Czar Nicholas abdicated the throne, ending the more than 300-year period of Romanov family rule. The Haunting True Story of Henry Lee Lucas, The True Story Behind 'The Pharmacist' on Netflix, Of Lice and Men: The Story of a True Classic, The True Story Behind 'Mindhunter' on Netflix, The Heartbreaking True Story of Marie Adler, The True Story Behind New Movie 'Breakthrough'. Documentary films are a wonderful source of information and draw a real, multi-layered image of the country where they happen to be set. Ski and Snowboard Foundation, said FairSport is intended to be "a trusted neutral in the whole process.". At the mercy of this new regime, the Romanovs were transported to a merchant's house in the city of Yekaterinburg. Netflix's New Trump Documentary Reveals Mob Connections That Helped Build an Empire. This New HBO Documentary Reveals All Alex Gibney’s two-part documentary ‘Agents of Chaos’ collates all of the evidence on how Russia is undermining American democracy, while Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes’ is an enchanting family film News coverage you can trust Just $1 for the first month But he said he wants the film to provoke determination to fight coercion and corruption rather than defeatism. "I've shown the film 25 times now, to hundreds of people since January," Swartz said in June. So, before you dive headfirst into the series (all six episodes of which drop on Netflix on July 3), here's what you need to know about the true story of the Romanov family. This documentary retells the story of the space race from the Russian perspective as the country attempts to create the most modern and advanced rocket engines in the history of the world. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 'Yellowstone' Fans React to the Prequel Series, Al Roker Posts Epic Super Bowl Family Instagram, Fans React to New 'Framing Britney Spears' Doc, Watch The Weeknd Perform at the Super Bowl, What Erin Krakow Has to Say About Lori Loughlin, Inside the Weeknd's Facial Transformation, The Weeknd Won’t Be Paid for His Super Bowl Show. Directed by Cal Seville. He is currently under the protective custody of the U.S. Department of Justice, which believes there might be a credible threat to his life. The Last Czars is a six-part miniseries brought to Netflix by production company Nutopia, and the format is probably unlike anything you've ever binge-watched before. "We want to make sure [the film] has the biggest impact possible on the culture of international sport," said Ed Stier, a former state and federal prosecutor who is the filmmakers' legal counsel. Winter on Fire is a brilliant Netflix documentary which captures the student movement in Ukraine demanding freedom and civil rights. This content is imported from {embed-name}. Sometimes, standard documentaries don't cut the mustard. History is the greatest storyteller, and these documentary shows and films tackle true tales of culture, war and so much more, from ancient times to modern. "[Rodchenkov] began to realize there was a world outside where the things they were doing were repugnant and offensive. JOIN NOW Upon their discovery and DNA identification, then-Russian president Boris Yeltsin called for their ceremonial reburial at the Romanov family crypt in St. Petersburg. A brief yet comprehensive documentary overview of the downfall of the Romanov dynasty and the evolution of Lenin's Ulyanov family, from the terrible acts and subsequent hanging of his brother to his own hunger for a revolution. Watch now for free Perfect for … Icarus is a 2017 American documentary film by Bryan Fogel, which chronicles Fogel's exploration of 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. Netflix documentary 'Icarus' spotlights Russian doping whistleblower A man walks past a doping-control sign at the biathlon and cross-country ski … Netflix has an extensive library of feature films, documentaries, TV shows, anime, award-winning Netflix originals and more. if you haven’t heard of Joe Exotic yet, then we don’t know what to tell you. Russia duped the world before and during Sochi 2014 with help from an enabling, co-dependent, international sports establishment that was either in denial or in cahoots. But by the end of "Icarus," Rodchenkov is a haunted man, convinced that the former head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency was silenced by murder and fearing he might be next. "This is about 80% drama, 20% documentary," actress Susanna Herbert, who plays Czarina Alexandra in the series, told Harper's Bazaar UK. The film's backers readily admit they have an agenda: driving home the flaws in the current anti-doping infrastructure and pushing the Olympic sports world to hold Russia accountable for flouting and undermining those efforts. Netflix, which paid $5 million to acquire the film (to be released Friday by the streaming service), is banking on that. Russian officials have denounced him and dismissed his claims. Published on 4/4/2018 at 5:34 PM. That's where Netflix … Netflix documentary 'Icarus' spotlights Russian doping whistleblower. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. It was a gruesome killing, and an unceremonious and undignified end to a once-revered imperial family. This government-commissioned film explores the need for a Russo-American alliance to defeat the Nazis. "It became very clear to me that athletes have no platform to help each other and help themselves," he said. The show tells the story of the family's downfall with both drama and documentary. — -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "Icarus," a documentary that deepens understanding of how easily the global anti-doping system was gamed, was the opening-night feature of the American Film Institute's AFI DOCS festival in June. With Daniel Beer, Helen Rappaport, Donald Rayfield, Victor Sebestyen. Nicholas II abdicated the throne, ending the 300-year period of Romanov family rule. It was there in Yekaterinburg that the family of seven, along with four of their most loyal servants, were housed for several months before a full-on civil war broke out between the "Red" Bolshevik army and the "White" anti-revolutionary army, which was backed by foreign powers (including the United States). Besides web series, movies and TV shows, Netflix is a large repository of documentaries. Familiar footage of the dethroned seven-time Tour de France champion appears at the beginning and end of "Icarus." The Story Behind 'When They See Us' on Netflix, Netflix's Best True Crime Shows and Movies, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. "Icarus" underscores the powerful internal and external forces aligned against effective anti-doping efforts. 15 Best Space Documentaries On Netflix Right Now. Nicholas's reportedly "weak" personality, arrogance, and his failure to lead the Russian army to success in various wars had led his government to dislike and distrust him. Ever since Making A Murderer debuted in 2015, introducing the world to the Avery and Dassey families and defining what would make for water-cooler TV in the streaming era, Netflix has been pushing out compelling documentary series and documentary movies one after the other. This gave Rasputin, a noted promiscuous and corrupt drunk, exceptional influence over Alexandra and her husband — something that neither the government nor the public was pleased with. FairSport has signed memorandums of understanding with WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and will provide financial and legal help to select whistleblowers. It follows a group of internet sleuths as they follow his moves after he … It has been said that Nicholas was ill-prepared to take on this role as emperor of Russia. The downfall of Czar Nicholas II and his family (and consequently, the downfall of the Russian Empire) has been subject of great fascination for … "Icarus" provides the first three-dimensional glimpse of the person behind the revelations. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The number of documentaries on Netflix has exploded in recent years. You can watch The Last Czars on Netflix now. JOIN NOW SIGN IN. Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports; in particular, the prestigious Haute Route, the Tour de France for amateur cyclists. The best Netflix documentaries don’t just inspire, entertain and inform. You often hear people being fatalistic about doping: 'Let them all dope.' Early in the movie, Rodchenkov promises to help Fogel beat drug tests, following an eyebrow-raising cameo by U.S. research pioneer Don Catlin, who initially considered and then backed out of the same proposition. By the time World War I began and millions of Russian men (and trains, and food supplies) were shipped off to the frontlines, the country was under extreme distress. Rodchenkov found a haven in the United States thanks to his oddly formed friendship with Fogel. Compelling New Documentary Tells Story Of Russian Collusion Hoax “You can't really make a movie about court dates and documents and hearings, but … In a messy execution conducted by local authorities in the wee morning hours of July 17, 1918, the seven members of the Romanov family — and all of their servants — were murdered in the basement of the Yekaterinburg merchant's house and then dumped in unmarked graves in the Ural Mountains. They are an excellent way to explore the globe in times when you may not be able to travel. Tarzan, who carried two guns on him at all times inside the club, was the go-to guy. The Russian Revolution 2017 TV-PG 47m Military Documentaries Starting in 1881, this film describes how the personal battle between the royal Romanovs and Lenin's Ulyanov family led to the Russian … They see this and you don't hear that anymore. Netflix's documentary offerings are strong stuff, ... Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, a crucial part of Russia's “anti-doping” program, who helps Fogel on his quest. 1943 | TV-PG | 1h 22m | Documentary Films. The story turns into a nightmare when the student-led protest turns violent and clashes with the administration. This documentary is directed by Mike Lerner and Maxim Pozdorovkin. He made up his mind he would use his knowledge to reform the system. Netflixacquired the distribution rights and released Icarus globally on Augus… Amanda Milius is a Los Angeles-bred filmmaker who is also a political conservative. The daughter of John Milius — the acclaimed screenwriter of Apocalypse Now, director of Conan the Barbarian, and maverick Hollywood right-winger — she has directed The Plot Against the President, an in-depth look at the Russiagate hoax and how Democrats and the mainstream media conspired to … Edits have made it more accessible to a wider swath of people. ... Netflix, which paid $5 million to acquire the film (to be released Friday by the streaming service), is banking on that. Directed by Joshua Riehl. A descendant of Russia's famed Romanov dynasty (which includes among its ranks such well-known names as Peter the Great and Alexander II), Nicholas was born to Czar Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna (formerly Princess Dagmar of Denmark) in 1868. By Anthony Schneck. Swartz, director emeritus of the U.S. Leading man Grigory Rodchenkov was unable to attend. Rodchenkov is expert at playing both sides. In fact, we don’t want to spoil anything. His research formed the basis of more sensitive detection methods for some steroids even as he invented ways to mask others. This Netflix documentary is about an online manhunt for Luka Magnotta. The downfall of Czar Nicholas II and his family (and consequently, the downfall of the Russian Empire) has been subject of great fascination for years — hence the creation of such works as the 1997 animated film Anastasia, Amazon Prime Video's 2018 series The Romanoffs, and now, Netflix's new docu-drama The Last Czars. In a May 2016 story in The New York Times, Rodchenkov described sample tampering, government and secret police involvement and drug-masking methods used to rig the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. Here are the 10 best documentaries that you can watch on Netflix. From classic features to original documentary series, there’s enough content to … And so, tensions grew and protests erupted before the Romanov family ultimately lost control of the growing revolution in 1917. Documentary reveals how ex-spy Vladamir Putin became President of Russia Putin was posted to Dresden in East Germany in 1985 with his wife and daughter He was offered job in … "If they find a way to walk away from [the evidence], it's going to be disastrous. Whether or not audiences find Rodchenkov sympathetic, they might well find him fascinating. When his father died of a terminal kidney disease in 1894, then-26-year-old Nicholas succeeded him as emperor of Russia and quickly married his love, Alexandra of Hesse, a German princess and granddaughter of the United Kingdom's Queen Victoria. Blending narrator-led, documentary-style footage with dramatized sequences shot with actors, the series blurs the lines between fact and legend — and is sure to completely captivate you in the process. Under the new government, former czar Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, and their five children — Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei — were sent to live in an isolated home in Siberia. In the late 1980s, the Detroit Red Wings worked to finally break their decades long Stanley Cup drought by extracting players from the Soviet Union, and in the process, changed the way North American hockey is played. It premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2017, and was awarded the U.S. Soon, Porky's, the blue-collar dive by the airport, attracted all comers, from the Russian mob to Vanilla Ice. Find out more in the series "Five Came Back." We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. First things first: Who were Czar Nicholas II and his wife, Czarina Alexandra? His evolution is the film's narrative core. He was already in hiding when Fogel leveraged his information in exchange for permission to film a debriefing session shown in the film, laying out the implications to a clearly nauseated group that includes current WADA director general Olivier Niggli, WADA athlete committee chairwoman Beckie Scott and WADA-accredited Montreal laboratory director Christiane Ayotte. Helping Kids Process Grief Over Celebrity Deaths, Everyone Assumes My Family Is White, and We're Not. (Photo by Courtesy Netflix) The 58 Best Netflix Documentaries and Docuseries. His life was shattered. The former Moscow laboratory director has figured prominently in voluminous World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned investigative reports over the past two years. The original cut of the movie screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year had more of Fogel's cycling odyssey and less of Rodchenkov's more perilous journey. There might come a time when someone will make a doping movie without reference to Lance Armstrong, but that time is not soon. The Stepanovs' information about corruption in Russian track and field only surfaced because of investigative work by German television reporter Hajo Seppelt. A History of Russia - Tsars and Revolutions - Documentary. I hope what happened to Grigory comes through in the film.". The documentary interviews key players in the 2016 election, Russian experts, and leaked classified information. Streaming: Netflix Just like with the previously endorsed “Hoop Dreams,” the most compelling documentaries often vault us down a far deeper rabbit hole than originally intended. 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