American ballet dancer Joy Womack fights tooth and nail to be accepted into Moscow's infamously tough Bolshoi Ballet Academy, with the dream of becoming a prima ballerina.
The obvious comparison is to Black Swan. Both films tell of the rigours and trials of training, becoming a ballerina, and then achieving greatness. Only a tiny proportion of ballerinas achieve great success, and this is about overcoming sabotage as well as politics and of course...training harder than anyone else.
Both films show the dark side and the bright side of ballet although arguably The American has fewer dancing scenes.
Talia Ryder is perfect in the role as Natalie Portman was in Black Swan. I totally believed in her dream, I believed in her ability to achieve it, and I believed that inside her she was born a dancer.
I wonder how much of the story is actual fact? Much of it is apparently, including the corruption allegations. This is how great the film was. It has made me question every aspect of it, and research Joy Womack's life so I get to know more about her, and generally have a more positive opinion of how difficult it is to become a great ballerina.
Fabulous film, I gave it a solid 8.
Plot summary
American ballet dancer Joy Womack is accepted into Moscow's infamously tough Bolshoi Ballet Academy, with the dream of becoming a great ballerina.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
May 18, 2024 at 04:29 PM
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 1080p.WEB.x265Movie Reviews
Such a beautiful film
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful
Oh wow I loved this movie. It really got me where it hurts. I sat in silence for quite a while after the credits rolled.
I come from dance, haven't been in that world for years, but this felt so authentic in the way it captured what it was like to yearn to be better at something, devote every ounce of your life to it, constantly hit setbacks, and reach a point where your desire becomes an almost dangerous obsession to the point that it can make you question who you really are.
The images are so beautiful to look at from beginning to end, and everything about the film felt impeccably crafted. Most importantly, it didn't at all shy away from the tougher sides of what this kind of life is like. It felt honest, emotional, and completely overwhelming.
I am now newly obsessed with Joy Womack. Amazing!!