Review: La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

OPENING: 11/04/2009

STUDIO: Zipporah Films

RUN TIME: 158 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, IMDb

The Charge
“An audience of 300,000. A reputation of being the best in the world. This is not a coincidence.”

Opening Statement
Master documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s 38th film doesn’t break new ground, but it’s an eye-opening and visually splendid portrait of a centuries-old art institution surviving in modern times. Wiseman previously focused on the American Ballet Theatre with Ballet (1995). This time, it’s the world-renowned Paris Opera Ballet that gets the spotlight. La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet contains enough rehearsal and performance footage to thoroughly satisfy dance fans. Documentary lovers will enjoy this candid look behind the curtain at a showbiz scene steeped in tradition and history.

Facts of the Case
The origins of Le Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris can be traced back to 1661 when Louis XIV ruled France. The modern company, headquartered in the landmark Palais Garnier, maintains a strict hierarchy. In the building’s many rehearsal spaces, we see lower ranking dancers being led through exercises and learning the moves for background performances. The featured dancers are trained one-on-one with ballet masters for their starring roles. The film captures exquisite dance routines from seven ballet productions being prepared by the company.

The Evidence
A pioneer of the modern American documentary, Frederick Wiseman is often associated with cinema verité — although he dislikes this “pompous French term that has absolutely no meaning.” Nevertheless, he employs an unobtrusive, fly-on-the-wall, observational style of documentary which places audiences at the heart of the institution he’s examining as though they were insiders. He does not engage in conversation with his subjects and they do not address the camera. There are no voice-overs or text cards to explain background information. Yet, it is easy, almost natural, to understand what is happening because Wiseman and cinematographer John Davey are drawn to the labor behind the art.

We see the daily activity that occurs in the hidden away corridors of the company, from the janitors who clean the auditorium, to the cooks in the cafeteria and the textile workers who fashion the elaborate costumes. As for the dancers, we definitely see them sweat in the rehearsals. Though these men and women are exceptionally graceful, there’s no question about the athleticism that’s demanded of them. Watching routines being refined and repeated until they’re perfected only adds to the appreciation of their work. Sitting in on a union meeting, we’re reminded these are skilled professionals with specific needs. The reality is that most of them will retire well before age 40, because of the physical strain they’ve endured for their art.

Dance aficionados may recognize some of the names and faces among the star ballerinas and famous choreographers. As a casual appreciator of dance, I didn’t know any of these personalities, but that didn’t diminish the joy and sense of connection with seeing these dancers working. Most memorable is artistic director Brigitte Lefèvre, a seemingly tireless woman who can swiftly shift gears to suit whatever role she needs to play. The biggest revelations about what goes on behind the scenes of the company come from observing Lefèvre in action. She is involved everywhere, whether it’s deciding how to balance their repertoire between classical and new works for the next three years, or advising on a marketing strategy to attract big donors. She’s also available to hear concerns from a star dancer or lend advice to a new member of the company. In Lefèvre, we see the importance of management in bridging the artistic and commercial worlds.

If Wiseman’s film has a narrative arc, the film’s direction leads us to the final show. After seeing many enjoyable rehearsals — entire dance numbers shot wide to show the full bodies — we’re finally treated to some of the finished sequences as they’re performed on stage. The result is the growing desire to see more of these amazing dancers. Regrettably, Paris seems so very far away.

Closing Statement
The film is not only a wonderful showcase of ballet excellence, it’s also a fascinating glimpse into the business side of show business. If you don’t have plans to visit Paris anytime soon, La Danse is well worth seeking out during its limited theatrical run in the U.S.

The Verdict
8/10

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