The film Three Seconds (Движение вверх, Dvijenie vverkh; literally “Upward Movement”, in English Going Vertical) by Anton Meguerditchev was undoubtedly also a significant event at the 6th Russian Film Festival, which took place in Nice last week.
Philippe Manassero, president of the Olympic Sports Departmental Committee of the Alpes-Maritimes and former international basketball referee, was one of the evening’s guests of honor. He didn’t hide his emotion: “It was a great pleasure to see this very good film that reveals the secrets of a cult encounter in the world of basketball.”
The film is based on real events and highlights the controversial final of the Basketball competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics. For the first time in 36 years, the “invincible” American team had to yield to the Soviets.
The title of the film refers to the three-second rule in basketball defense.
With 12 million viewers, Vertical Movement is the highest-grossing film in the Russian box office in its contemporary history. Critics have labeled it as “a true basketball blockbuster.”
