agmtw logo
search
Heart of Invictus

Heart of Invictus

TV-MA

netflix

It’s urgent and it means well, but this documentary struggles to distinguish itself from many that came before it

6.9

TV Show

United States of America
English
Documentary
2023
ORLANDO VON EINSIEDEL

TLDR

It’s perfectly fine, but it has that Netflix brand of style that diminishes its impact.

What it's about

Heart of Invictus is a five-part docuseries that follows athletes competing in the Invictus Games, an international competition for wounded soldiers founded by Prince Harry.

The take

It’s hard not to be struck by the inspiring stories of the six soldier-athletes we follow in Heart of Invictus. Many have lost limbs, most suffer from PTSD, and even others, like Ukrainian medic Yulia Paievska, are still active-duty and on the frontlines of war. They recall stories from their troubled past and uplifting present, and claim that opportunities like the Invictus Games allow them to heal and feel a sense of their former selves. As the co-founder of the games, Prince Harry’s testimonies can seem like fluff at times, but his sincerity pierces through and lends the docuseries an authentic feel. All is well on the material front, but Heart of Invictus wobbles in the technical details. The editing isn’t as smooth as it can be, the footage can feel generic, and the filmmakers can’t seem to establish an identifiable style. 

What stands out

For most viewers, Paievska is the clear standout. Unlike the other interviewees, Paievska is still serving her country and is in fact captured by Russian forces midway through shooting. You’ll have to watch for yourself to see how her story develops, but needless to say, it’s an admirable show of strength and resilience. 

Comments

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Pretend it’s a City

A wildly entertaining series of interviews with a New York legend

9.2

Wild Wild Country

Almost too outrageous to be true – this captivating true crime docuseries tells the unlikely story of an Indian cult in America

9.8

My Love: Six Stories of True Love

A simple ode to life-long partnership

8.0

Normal People

A drop-dead gorgeous romantic drama too nuanced to fit into a plot description

9.1

Flint Town

A gripping docuseries that digs deep into an American town in perpetual crisis.

8.2

Immigration Nation

A three-year inside look at ICE

8.0

Explained

Sleek 15-minute deep-dive documentaries into a range of zeitgeisty topics

8.4

The Keepers

Captivating and horrific true crime about a murdered nun in 1969

8.1

Fermat’s Cuisine

Math and the culinary arts mix in this tasty live-action manga adaptation

7.0

Ugly Delicious

Rebel chef David Chang delivers a mouth-watering exploration of global food favorites, breaks down cultural barriers, and challenges our notions of authenticity.

8.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.