Reviewed by Kim Choe
Paris, dawn. High above the city’s rooftops, it’s calm. And from deep in the bowels of the Paris Opera Ballet’s headquarters, filmmaker Frederick Wiseman creates a sense of poise and elegance fitting of such a city.
La Danse provides a rare insight into this world-class Parisian institution. The fly-on-the-wall style of documentation is devoid of narration, leaving the viewer to take a self-guided tour of rehearsals, meetings, and the dining room. No one will tell you whether the teachers are tyrannical or the food tastes as insipid as it looks though – that is left for the observer to decide.
The dancers themselves display remarkable emotional restraint, a far cry from the turmoil portrayed in the numerous fictional dance school films that have been released in recent years. The only drama in La Danse is in the dance itself – and it delivers this outstandingly, in the form of several full-length performances of dances from Rudolf Nureyev’s classic The Nutcracker to Pina Bausch’s contemporary Eurydyce.
That being so, the film will really only be enjoyed by those who love dance. Many of the modern works are confronting to watch – a direct juxtaposition with the refined spectacle of the traditional ballets, yet both often performed by the same dancers. The focus is on their remarkable skill, strength, and versatility – and this isn’t compromised for the sake of a more manageable duration.
Three and a half stars
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet
:: Director: Frederick Wiseman
:: Running Time: 158 mins
:: Rating: PG – contains coarse language
:: Trailer: Watch here
