Reviewing the Documentary: Ballerina (Friday, May 3, 2013)

Today I watched the first documentary for my project, called Ballerina. Below is the reflection I wrote after watching it (minus one of the questions which I will expand upon in my next post). My set-up was question and answer. I came up with the questions after doing a bit of background research on the documentary.

1) Discuss what type of documentary this was. What did it attempt to teach the audience? What did it focus on?

This documentary was very information-based. It did not delve into the personal lives of the ballerinas as much as I would’ve liked it to. It started out by describing the history of ballet in Russia and how this form of artistic expression has stayed as an integral part of the culture. Of course, I am not expert on Russian culture, but when I saw (in the documentary) a middle-aged man discussing the successes of some of the featured ballerinas, I realized that the society as a whole knows a lot more about the modern ballet world than I imagine Americans would (about the American world of ballet). This documenatry was an honest portrayal of the controversial world of ballet. I appreciated that it remained so neutral. It did not seek to portray ballet as an evil facet that turns healthy little girls into fear-driven robots, but it also did not try to cover the imperfections of the ballet world. It, instead, showed a reverent, but unbiased inward peek into this fascinating art. 

2) Did you like how it focused on the careers of five different ballerinas in different stages of their careers?

I did like this. I thought it was a unique way to set up a storyline for the documentary. Of course, the career of every ballerina is quite different. As shown in the documentary, some of the ballerinas are thrown instantly into solo roles while others work their way up the ladder.

3) What were your likes and dislikes with regards to the documentary and what you learned about the ballet world (in Russia).

I wanted to get an even more inside view of the ballet world, so it was disappointing when I realized I was only seeing the ballerinas who were “the best,” the ballerinas, the ones who had already made it. I wanted to see ones that failed and why. I wanted to know if it was partially just luck. I am sure there are some ballerinas who have what it takes but somehow never get noticed. Overall, I enjoyed the documentary, so much so that I watched it twice.