Polina

Name: Polina
Genre: Drama
Released: August 25, 2017
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Aleksei Guskov, Anastasia Shevtsova, Jeremie Belingard, Juliette Binoche, Kseniya Kutepova

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Polina

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Movie Details & Credits

Oscilloscope Laboratories | Release Date: August 25, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Aleksei Guskov, Anastasia Shevtsova, Jeremie Belingard, Juliette Binoche, Kseniya Kutepova, Miglen Mirtchev, Niels Schneider, Oriana Jimenez, Sergio Díaz, Veronika Zhovnytska

Summary: Trained from an early age by rigorous, perfectionist Professor Bojinski, Polina is a promising classic dancer. She is just about to join the prestigious Bolchoï Ballet when she discovers contemporary dance. That throws everything into question on a profound level. Polina leaves it all behind and moves to France to work with famousTrained from an early age by rigorous, perfectionist Professor Bojinski, Polina is a promising classic dancer. She is just about to join the prestigious Bolchoï Ballet when she discovers contemporary dance. That throws everything into question on a profound level. Polina leaves it all behind and moves to France to work with famous choreographer Liria Elsaj. Despite her determination and hard work to the point of obsession, Polina just can't seem to break through. So she moves to Anvers in search of work - and a new life.… Expand

Director: Angelin Preljocaj and Valérie Müller

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

100

John Anderson

Aug 24, 2017

The creative process is always an elusive thing for filmmakers to capture, but amid all the startling visuals and the splendid acting, Polina rises, gloriously, to the challenge. Read full review

Claudia Bauer

Sep 14, 2017

Polina is spare in dialogue; more is conveyed through painterly wide-screen cinematography by Georges Lechaptois. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Sep 23, 2017

The film conveys energy, color, and movement from start to finish, irrespective of whether Polina is dancing, bartending, or trying to catch a few moments of sleep in a laundromat. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Aug 23, 2017

If this film’s directors, Valérie Müller and the French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, don’t offer much overt material on Polina’s inner life, it’s because they don’t have to: the point of Polina, and this movie, is that her dancing is her being. Read full review

The Observer (UK) Simran Hans

Dec 25, 2018

Though the film suggests a hardiness borne of her working-class background and mobster father, Polina remains fairly opaque. At least the contemporary dance sequences are beautifully mounted; French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj has a co-director credit on the film. Read full review

Elizabeth Zimmer

Aug 24, 2017

Images planted early in the film betray the path Polina will take; when we watch her move freely in the woods and commune with a moose, we guess that ballet may not be the last stop on her professional train. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Dec 25, 2018

Despite the panache with which the dance sequences are presented, it is frustratingly inert dramatically. Read full review

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GinaK

Sep 12, 2017

An interesting and enjoyable film, which is as much about the evolution of dance as it is about the evolution of Polina. My one criticism is that the film makes classical dance seem very dull, compared to modern dance. But, of course, that was the point of view of the dancers. The actorsAn interesting and enjoyable film, which is as much about the evolution of dance as it is about the evolution of Polina. My one criticism is that the film makes classical dance seem very dull, compared to modern dance. But, of course, that was the point of view of the dancers. The actors were all convincing and the dancing was exquisite.… Expand

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