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| Anna's Army is a 51 minute documentary that explores the current explosion of Russian talent on the women's tour. Siberian-native Maria Sharapova sparked Kournikova-size shock waves when she became the first Russian to win Wimbledon at just seventeen years of age. And yet she is just one of the many fiercely talented and attractive Russians sweeping over the women's tour. Their ascent has been brutal and swift. In 2002, only one Russian woman was ranked among the World's Top-30 players. By 2004, they constituted half of the Top-10 and had captured the French, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. So why is this snow-covered, cash-strapped nation suddenly producing waves of femme-fatale tennis phenoms? This enlightening documentary gives you the entire story. It covers the history of Russian tennis and explores the real reasons for the rising onslaught of Russian pros and juniors. The film takes you on the journey from their harsh Soviet origins to their current glamorous lifestyle. Anna's Army boasts rare historic and contemporary footage of these girls' matches, training methods, off-court moments, and breathtaking fashion and marketing success. The film also features unusually candid interviews with Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Nick Bollettieri, Robert Lansdorp and the numerous rising stars of the Russian babe brigade. Other interesting side notes include historic footage and photos of the last Russian Tsar and Soviet leaders playing tennis, rare home-video of today's top pros training as juniors in Moscow, a comical Boris Yeltsin during a heated match, the rising onslaught of Russian pros and juniors, and a section on these young femme fatales' marketing successes and role as cultural icons. DVD. 51 minutes. |
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