Valery's Ankle
Brett Kashmere / 2006 / digital video / 33 minutes / color and b&w / sound
Synopsis
Valery’s Ankle explodes the spectacle of hockey violence and its representation in North American media. Taking
Bobby Clarke's breaking of rival Russian star Valery Kharlamov's ankle during the 1972 Summit Series as its departure
point and site of research, the film uncovers a disturbing history of unforetold and abject Canadian behaviour.
"… using the avant-garde apparatus to shift the artistic mythology from Paul Henderson's overdone orificial penetration
to this moment of violence and shame may well give momentum (and integrity) to the discourses of sports, masculinity,
and nationalism in Canadian cinemas." (Thomas Waugh, The Romance of Transgression in Canada)
Context
In September 1972, Canadian hockey pros faced the amateur Soviets for the first time ever. Played under the spectre
of the Cold War, Canada’s victory in this famous series, thanks to a last-minute winning goal, has become the bestknown
and celebrated Canadian story of all time. But the games were also marked by extreme acts of violence that
are only subconsciously remembered.
Team Canada’s performance throughout the series, and Bobby Clarke’s two-handed slash of rival Russian star Valery
Kharlamov’s ankle in particular, signal a “glitch” in the production of Canadian nationalism, identity and masculinity.
This fracture disrupts our self-identification as polite, peaceful and sportsmanlike, and enacts a shadow identity as
frustrated, aggressive and vengeful.
Valery’s Ankle explodes the spectacle of hockey violence and its representation in North American media -- from Eddie
Shore’s vicious, career-ending hit on Ace Bailey, to Clarke’s pre-emptive smashing of Kharlamov’s ankle, to Todd
Bertuzzi’s revenge assault on Steve Moore -- filmmaker Brett Kashmere uncovers a disturbing history of unforetold and
abject Canadian behaviour.
Selected Screenings
Kassel Documentary Festival / Kassel, Germany
The Images Festival / Toronto
Made in Video: International Video Art Festival / Copenhagen, Denmark
Chicago Underground Film Festival / Chicago
Arena: The Art of Hockey / Art Gallery of Nova Scotia / Halifax
PDX Documentary and Experimental Festival / Portland, Oregon
The Sports Show / Gallery 400 at University of Chicago-Illinois / Curated by Ben Russell / Chicago
Press / Reviews
Michael Sicinsky, The Academic Hack
Sean Rogers, Broken Pencil
Brian Kennedy, Inside Hockey
Antoine Tedesco, SceneandHeard.ca
Supplementary Materials
Essay: Valery's Ankle, the Break and Its Consequences: The 1972 Summit Series and the Shaping of Canada's Cultural Identity
Distribution
Vtape
Video Pool
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