'La Danse' to the music
Laetitia Pujol and Nicolas Le Riche rehearse "The Nutcracker."
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet
Running time: 157 minutes
No MPAA rating: (suitable for all age groups)
On the Web
"La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet" is the ultimate backstage pass to the fascinating world of tutus and pointe shoes.
A must-see and, in fact, euphoria for ballet aficionados, veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman's study of gifted dancers preparing for seven ballets offers enticement for dance novices as well.
Mostly in French with subtitles, "La Danse" drops the audience backstage with absolutely no fanfare and no set-up. Wiseman, taking a minimalist approach, offers no narration and no indication of who's who.
Instead, we're privy to every nook and cranny of the Palais Garnier, which has served as the renowned ballet company's home since 1875. Wiseman and cinematographer John Davey have obviously set a lofty goal of celebrating what Wiseman has referred to as "the highest level of achievement in the conscious use of the body to express feeling and thought."
Noted choreographers put les étoiles (the stars) through sometimes grueling rehearsals, pointing out what appears to a novice as the tiniest flaw. When dancers and choreographer are finally in sync, Wiseman ("Domestic Violence," 2001), who's been making documentaries for four decades, moves on.
But not always to more rehearsals of a mixture of modern and classic ballets ranging from the old chestnut "The Nutcracker" to "Orpheus and Eurydyce" from avant-garde choreographer Pina Bausch. Wiseman's camera often wanders the storied halls. He focuses for a while on a worker painting a door, then visits the lunch room (the fish looks good). He even takes us up on the roof to see what a beekeeper is up to as he (or she, can't tell really in that protective suit) gathers honey.
Unless you're keenly familiar with ballet on the international level, chances are that company director Brigitte LeFevre is the only person you'll get to know well. LeFevre offers an in-depth primer into what it takes to mount a world-class ballet.
She holds business meetings to decide just how close serious patrons (with donations of $25,000 and up) can get to the dancers during a hobnob luncheon. In another meeting, LeFevre emotionally nurtures (but not too gently) one of the dancers one-on-one in her office.
The focus, of course, always returns to the sometimes breathtaking flow of body parts as some of the most gifted dancers in the world generate fluid motion in search of ballet perfection.
Those unfamiliar with ballet, or perhaps only mildly interested, might squirm a little in their seats before this exquisite backstage pass expires. After all, "La Danse" occupies the screen for over two and a half hours.
If you love ballet, however, "La Danse" makes its intimate exclusive access pointe and then some.
A must-see and, in fact, euphoria for ballet aficionados, veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman's study of gifted dancers preparing for seven ballets offers enticement for dance novices as well.
Mostly in French with subtitles, "La Danse" drops the audience backstage with absolutely no fanfare and no set-up. Wiseman, taking a minimalist approach, offers no narration and no indication of who's who.
Instead, we're privy to every nook and cranny of the Palais Garnier, which has served as the renowned ballet company's home since 1875. Wiseman and cinematographer John Davey have obviously set a lofty goal of celebrating what Wiseman has referred to as "the highest level of achievement in the conscious use of the body to express feeling and thought."
Noted choreographers put les étoiles (the stars) through sometimes grueling rehearsals, pointing out what appears to a novice as the tiniest flaw. When dancers and choreographer are finally in sync, Wiseman ("Domestic Violence," 2001), who's been making documentaries for four decades, moves on.
But not always to more rehearsals of a mixture of modern and classic ballets ranging from the old chestnut "The Nutcracker" to "Orpheus and Eurydyce" from avant-garde choreographer Pina Bausch. Wiseman's camera often wanders the storied halls. He focuses for a while on a worker painting a door, then visits the lunch room (the fish looks good). He even takes us up on the roof to see what a beekeeper is up to as he (or she, can't tell really in that protective suit) gathers honey.
Unless you're keenly familiar with ballet on the international level, chances are that company director Brigitte LeFevre is the only person you'll get to know well. LeFevre offers an in-depth primer into what it takes to mount a world-class ballet.
She holds business meetings to decide just how close serious patrons (with donations of $25,000 and up) can get to the dancers during a hobnob luncheon. In another meeting, LeFevre emotionally nurtures (but not too gently) one of the dancers one-on-one in her office.
The focus, of course, always returns to the sometimes breathtaking flow of body parts as some of the most gifted dancers in the world generate fluid motion in search of ballet perfection.
Those unfamiliar with ballet, or perhaps only mildly interested, might squirm a little in their seats before this exquisite backstage pass expires. After all, "La Danse" occupies the screen for over two and a half hours.
If you love ballet, however, "La Danse" makes its intimate exclusive access pointe and then some.
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