The Sun Ship Game

Racing gliders is far more exciting and adrenalyn packed that the title implies. Soaring for hours over unlandable terrain in expensive motorless flying sculptures is a sport that is known primarily to a small tribe of exceptional pilots. Glider pilots have a reputation in the aviation world and this movie shows why. This is half movie, half documentary, and captures the culture of sailplane racing as well as the decade in which it was filmed. This is a captivating film that follows the top contenders as they modify their gliders and deal with insecurities and logistics as they position themselves for the Nationals. I would recommend this film to anyone, but especially to those who have flown in a sailplane before or would like to.

I've been familiar with this documentary since 1978 when I joined the Soaring Society of America as marketing and PR director and screened it to large audiences at the EAA's Oshkosh fly-in. Afterwards, I had to explain to more than one viewer that the characters in the film were not actors. That says a lot.

The characters tell the story, mostly through dialogue, not some behind the scenes deep-voiced know-it-all. Producer/director Bob Drew is known in the documentary business for his ground breaking American cinéma vérité (or direct cinema). As Drew Associate's website says, he follows a visual logic rather than the traditional documentary lecture logic. It looks more like a movie.

What the viewer gets is the feel of soaring from hearing the thoughts of two pilots trying to capture the U.S. Open Class soaring championship, one who flies by the seat of his pants/emotion and one who flies with an analytical approach. There is also beautiful scenery and great music, some by the BeeGees, which held up the film going onto DVD for many years.

I was fortunate to dine with one of the characters, George Moffat, at a Soaring Society convention. A really nice individual. I do identify with the other character, Gleb Derujinsky, because, after leaving the society, I went into advertising: writing and producing commercials like him.

The film is not easy to find but is available on DVD. It is not on HD Bluray and that is why I give it a 9 but it is so much better than the horrible tape I had for years.