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"The Speed Cubers": A Netflix documentary about friendship in competition

4.8.2020

Translation: machine translated

"The Speed Cubers" does not tell the story of the friendly but competitive speedcubing culture, but the story of two record-chasing competitors who meet outside the competition with heart-warming friendship, help and acceptance.

There's Feliks Zemdegs, a 23-year-old Australian who has won several Speedcube World Championships and set many world records over the last ten years. He is one of the icons of the sport and is admired by everyone. Especially by one: Max Park.

Max is 17 years old, has autism and lives with his parents in California. Ever since his mum taught him how to solve a Rubik's Cube, he has been fascinated by this sport. In 2013, he saw Feliks for the first time at a competition in Las Vegas. Feliks, the living legend with an air of myth surrounding him. Max wants to emulate him. He gets faster and faster at solving Rubik's cubes. In 2017, he manages to break one of Feliks' world records for the first time. More records follow.

World Championships Paris, 2017: Feliks and Max compete against each other for the first time. Max wins in the 3×3 discipline, the classic Rubik's Cube and also the supreme discipline in the competition. Feliks congratulates him fairly. What the two of them don't realise is that they will push each other. For years. Until the next world championship, which will take place in Melbourne in 2019. Until then, they will develop an extraordinary friendship that defies the ultra-competitive world of the seemingly innocent game.

Friends for life

"The Speed Cubers" is all about the competition, but it is primarily about the understanding and friendship between two people. This documentary tells us little about the history of speedcubing as a competitive sport or how many speedcubers get involved in it. But the friendship that the two champions share and what we are shown about the role of speedcubing in their lives more than makes up for it.

Competing friends Max Park (left) and Feliks Zemdegs (right).
Source: Netflix

As the final of the 2019 World Championship in Melbourne approaches, "The Speed Cubers" reaches its emotional climax. Will Feliks win or will Max take the race? I was torn as to who I should root for more. On the one hand, I wouldn't begrudge Feliks it, as he is on the decline and a title in his home town would mean everything to him. On the other hand, there's Max, who I took to my heart from the very first minute. Thanks to the Rubik's Cube, he has found a way to express his emotions and form human relationships despite his illness. Winning would give him even more self-confidence and optimism.

Max is highly concentrated before the 3x3 final.
Source: Netflix

More exciting than the victory, however, is how the two rivals will continue to interact after the championship. It's a great moment that got to me emotionally and made me think.

Entertaining, bizarre, heart-warming

Although the premise of "The Speed Cubers" is basic, it is still very entertaining. The world of speed cubing is quirky in the best possible way. The competitors are brilliant, the commentators are just as dynamic as in other sports, and the fans are dedicated.

It's fun to watch so many kids and teens get excited about an unconventional interest, and it's heartwarming to see Max and Feliks lifting each other up. Even when they don't do as well as they'd hoped. Feliks always congratulates his mate straight away, even if it means beating his own records. The story is told accurately, directly and to the point. It's a great documentary film that I recommend to everyone. <p

Header image: Image source: Netflix

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Ramon Schneider

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Ramon.Schneider@digitecgalaxus.ch

I get paid to play with toys all day.

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