Here's a completely and utterly forgotten gem, evidenced by the fact that it has 52 votes on IMDb and took me 2 years to track down. This is what people should mean when they claim something is underrated or overlooked. TCM apparently showed it for the first time in 15 years last year, and I missed it, which made me upset. Ultimately, however, I enjoyed the search, and didn't end up watching it until I'd already owned it for a month or two, and I'd have it no other way. I enjoy watching movies when I have a sudden burning desire to watch a specific film, not jut an "Okay, time to watch a movie now."
There are exterior shots reminiscent of Jean Vigo's À Propos de Nice at the beginning of the film-the close-ups of the statues, and interior shots reminiscent of the silent Phantom of the Opera (1925) (one of my favorite movies)-the close-ups of the creepy props backstage, as well as the overhead shots of the rats underneath the stage. It would be unsurprising if the scene with the dancer overlaid with a nature shot was an influence on Maya Deren, particularly A Study in Choreography for Camera.
The movie's themes deal with the fact that children don't understand adults, and neither in general do adults understand children, despite having been a child. Karine, played by Mia Slavenska, whose unfortunate case of chronic bitch face doesn't inhibit her acting, surprisingly acts like an adult in the well-written screenplay, despite the horror she has inflicted upon her. Not everyone does act like an adult in real life, but this seems to be grossly over represented in films, so here is a breath of fresh air, and with reasoning behind it. Ballet provides a strict discipline for becoming graceful, which overflows into interpersonal relations. Children will continue to do evil things they don't understand the full consequences of, but they can be made to understand and become a better adult with proper treatment. Put your kid in ballet.
There are exterior shots reminiscent of Jean Vigo's À Propos de Nice at the beginning of the film-the close-ups of the statues, and interior shots reminiscent of the silent Phantom of the Opera (1925) (one of my favorite movies)-the close-ups of the creepy props backstage, as well as the overhead shots of the rats underneath the stage. It would be unsurprising if the scene with the dancer overlaid with a nature shot was an influence on Maya Deren, particularly A Study in Choreography for Camera.
The movie's themes deal with the fact that children don't understand adults, and neither in general do adults understand children, despite having been a child. Karine, played by Mia Slavenska, whose unfortunate case of chronic bitch face doesn't inhibit her acting, surprisingly acts like an adult in the well-written screenplay, despite the horror she has inflicted upon her. Not everyone does act like an adult in real life, but this seems to be grossly over represented in films, so here is a breath of fresh air, and with reasoning behind it. Ballet provides a strict discipline for becoming graceful, which overflows into interpersonal relations. Children will continue to do evil things they don't understand the full consequences of, but they can be made to understand and become a better adult with proper treatment. Put your kid in ballet.