The Rocket

The inspiring story of the late French-Canadian hockey legend Maurice “The Rocket” Richard (Roy Dupuis), who faced prejudice in the Anglophile-oriented NHL during the 1950s, is told in filmmaker Charles Biname's excellent period piece on the Hall of Famer. The film is bookended by the famous Montreal “Richard Riot,” in which fans rioted in solidarity for the Montreal Canadiens' right winger after he was suspended during the 1955 season. Using a distinctive color scheme to accentuate the era, which featured a fair amount of competitive violence on the ice (players did not wear helmets in Richard's time), the director parallels working-class, French-speaking Richard's rise to fame from the age of 17, with the province of Quebec's struggle for identity, as characterized by the virulent language battle (over the use of French vs. English). Featuring an amazing performance by Dupuis, The Rocket is a winning story of courage, commitment, and compassion. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a featurette tribute to the real “Rocket,'” as well as deleted scenes. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a fine sports film.] (B. Gibron)