Ballets Russe (2005) Movie Information:

Ballets Russe (2005) Directed by: Dan Geller, Dana Goldfine Ballets Russe (2005) Written by: Dan Geller, Dana Goldfine Ballets Russe (2005) Cast: Not available at this time

Ballets Russe (2005) U.S. Distributor: Not available at this time Ballets Russe (2005) U.K. Distributor: Revolver

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Ballets Russe (2005) Synopsis:

Ballets Russe (2005) Movie Review:

Spanning nearly a century of dance, this well-assembled doc not only traces the remarkable development of an artform, but it gives the artists a chance to tell their stories.

The Ballet Russe first premiered in 1909 Paris, and continued in various forms until 1962. Over the years there were splits and rivalries, as choreographers (such as Ballanchine and Massine) and dancers stormed off to form their own companies. They travelled the world, introducing European dance to the United States, Australia and South America. During World War II they fled to America, where most dancers stayed. Then some 40 years after they finally disbanded, the dancers reunited in 2000 to reminisce for the cameras.

The filmmakers assemble these and other interviews alongside a rich trove of archive footage--grainy home movies, film clips anything they could find that captured these groundbreaking performers along the way. It's such a comprehensive approach that it's almost exhausting; they seem to leave no path untravelled to get the entire story on film once and for all. The result is remarkably engaging, full of wit and humour. These feisty 80-something artists still have the spark we see in them on stage as teenagers.

In addition to a detailed look at the development of modern ballet, the film also catches telling elements of 20th century history through art (Picasso, Dali and Matisse worked on various productions), global politics and culture in Paris, London, New York and places much more far flung. The reaction of uninitiated audiences is fascinating, as is the Hollywood interlude, when one company starred in a series of big musical movies.

It's beautifully edited into a narrative form that follows the story chronologically through personal perspectives. This keeps things in historical context and makes the ongoing "ballet wars" much more involving. It also deepens several anecdotes, such as the encounters with increasing racism in the South. Overall, the vast amount of information is a bit overwhelming, and probably would have been better served by a shorter film and/or a longer TV series. But this is still wonderfully entertaining.

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Ballets Russe (2005) review written by: Rich Cline