Icarus

Icarus follows filmmaker Bryan Fogel as he dives into the murky world of performance enhancing drugs in sport. What begins as a self experiment to test the boundaries of athletic performance quickly broadens into a high stakes collaboration with Grigory Rodchenkov, a controversial figure tied to Russia's doping program. The film chronicles late night messages, covert samples, and improvised injections as Fogel and Rodchenkov trade information and navigate mounting pressure from authorities. As their inquiry deepens, the line between participant and investigator blurs, revealing how political aims and scientific coverups intersect with individual ambition. The result is a suspenseful look at sport, truth, and power. Its intimate approach gives the audience access to the tension behind major sports headlines.

Directed by Bryan Fogel and released in 2017, Icarus is framed as an original investigative documentary rather than an adaptation. It pairs Fogel's self experiment with a wider uncovering of Russia's doping apparatus led by Rodchenkov.

Icarus won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Oscars, solidifying its critical impact. It also earned praise for the nerve to place a filmmaker beside his subject, providing unprecedented access and revelations about Russia's doping program while triggering broader discussions on sports ethics and governance worldwide.

Icarus left a mark on public discourse by reframing doping as a political issue as much as a medical one. It sparked conversations about national programs and oversight, contributing to broader scrutiny, investigations, and policy changes in Olympic sport and anti-doping practices around the world and inspired new investigative projects.

Critics generally praised Icarus for its nerve and clarity, though some noted ethical questions around the filmmaker's dual role. The film probes truth versus power, the seduction of data, and how national pride can distort science, inviting viewers to question authority while staying focused on human stakes amid global attention.