The family film Hockey Dads is slated to arrive in Russian cinemas on November 23, 2023, with the news confirmed by the press service of NMG Kinoprokat.
The narrative centers on Andrei Frolov, a coach guiding a provincial town’s youth hockey team. When he learns that the town’s sole ice palace is at risk of being torn down, he devises a bold plan: win the amateur hockey tournament to save the arena. To support their children’s future, the fathers of the players decide to enter the arena themselves and fight for what matters most to their families.
The production features Alexey Bardukov in the leading role, known for Podolsk Cadets. Bardukov has said he enjoyed stepping into the world of hockey and even discovered the sport through his character. The ensemble cast includes Anya Chipovskaya, Mikhail Porechenkov, Yuri Chursin, Alexey Kravchenko, Alexander Oblasov, Daniil Vakhrushev, Polina Gagarina, and others, delivering a blend of seasoned experience and fresh energy.
Andrei Bulatov directs and writes the screenplay, describing the project as a motivation to actively engage with hockey. He notes that the film showcases several spectacular hockey sequences captured with modern equipment, while the intertwined plots, unexpected turns, and high-speed chases keep audiences guessing until the final whistle.
As the storytelling unfolds, the movie frames the sport not just as competition but as a community endeavor, where parents rally around their children and their town’s future. The director emphasizes that the narrative stresses teamwork, resilience, and the power of collective action in the face of danger to the local way of life. The film’s tone blends humor with heartfelt moments, appealing to families and sports enthusiasts alike, and it aims to leave viewers with a sense of warmth and optimism about what communities can achieve when they come together.
In parallel discussions about biographical cinema, some critics have commented on the value and limitations of biographical films within the broader landscape of cinema, noting that different genres serve distinct storytelling needs. This discourse reflects a wider conversation about how real-life figures and events are portrayed on screen, and how audiences respond to the balance between fact and fiction in biographical storytelling. Such debates underscore the varied tastes of viewers who seek both inspiration and cinema that resonates on a personal level.