Movie Review: Polina - diverting, but not essential viewingUniFrance/ YouTube Polina is now screening in select New Zealand cinemasPolina (PG, 109 mins) Directed by Valerie Muller, Angelin Preljocaj ★★★With its tale of a communist dancer attempting to find fame and glory in Western Europe, this French-Russian co-production is clearly trying to attract the same audience left spellbound by last year's crowdpleasing documentary Dancer. However, there's nothing here that reaches the dramatic heights or mesmerising moves cooked by modern ballet's enfant terrible Sergei Polunin. Polina is played with poise and purpose by Anastasia Shevtsova,READ MORE:* Movie Review: Dance Academy - a hugely enjoyable slice of teen drama* 'Bad boy' of ballet Sergei Polunin dances out of shadowy reputation* Movie Review: DancerPlayed with poise and purpose by Anastasia Shevtsova, Polina dreams of being a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi. However, the pair struggle to stay in sync and Polina finds herself injured and on the outer and having to seek alternative work just to stay solvent. With its haunting orchestral score and some memorable imagery (Polina practicing in the shadow of nuclear reactors surrounded by snow), there's no doubting the aesthetic appeals of this movie.

Source: Stuff July 06, 2017 03:23 UTC