Ballet Movie – The White Crow

The legendary defection by Rudolf Nureyev

I finally managed to watch this ballet movie, even though it was released in spring 2019.  Most ballet lovers know the story about the defection of Rudolf Nureyev to the West at the Paris airport after a tour of Europe by the Kirov ballet company. That defection was the start of his incredible career as he rose to become the first ballet superstar in the world.

I particularly liked the movie for all of the beautiful ballet scenes. It could have had even more dancing. The story is focussed on the life of young Nureyev who wants to see the world and enjoy life as much as he can. 

Oleg Ivenko, a Ukainian professional dancer, is convincing in the role of Nureyev – a young, explosive, untameable, explosive, ambitious ballet dancer who revolutionized classical ballet. 

The movie is a portrait of young Nureyev, a ballet movie , a political thriller – a bit of everything. It is all about freedom, which was the most important demand for Nureyev. His quote „You live as long as you dance“ tells us all about him.