'The Speed Cubers' on Netflix Pits Max Park Against Feliks Zemdegs

(Image credit: Netflix)

published 28 July 2020

One of Netflix's new short documentaries of summer 2020 is all about the world of "speedcubing." If you're not aware (I was not), "speedcubing" is the practice of racing to solve of a Rubik's Cube, although there are other puzzles that can be included in the practice. It is completely mesmerizing to watch these prodigies—a lot of speedcubers are quite young—as their fingers move in hyperfast time to speedsolve Cubes in as little as seven seconds. But The Speed Cubers, out July 29, is also a deep dive into this very niche space that nevertheless has ardent fans around the world and garners a ton of attention during competitions.

The documentary, which is directed by Sue Kim, will make you feel like, for a few seconds, you might actually be able to solve some of these puzzles, too. (Cut to me sadly staring at one for eight hours.) So what do we know?

The Speed Cubers stars two "speedcubing" champions, Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs.

The 40-minute documentary covers "two best Rubiks Cubers in the world": speedcubing champions Park (17) and Zemdegs (23). Zemdegs had held the title of fastest cuber ever for nearly 10 years, before Park beat his 3x3x3 record in 2017.

Despite their rivalry—they're probably neck and neck for the first and second speedcubers in the world—they're also totally friends, and it's pretty cute to watch. In particular, we hear a lot about Park, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, and the process of him becoming interested in speedcubing as well as his meteoric rise to becoming one of the best in the world.

The Speed Cubers | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

Watch On

The plot of The Speed Cubers includes a world championship.

The documentary provides context on speedcubing as well as the background of each of the two players. The documentary will also cover the World Championship. Even though Zemdegs and Park are close, there can't be two winners, so the tension mounts as the two are put head-to-head against each other to determine who's the best in the world. No spoilers here—just watch!

WATCH 'THE SPEED CUBERS' ON NETFLIX

TOPICS

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.