An American ballerina travels to Hungary to join a prestigious ballet school. But soon her personality begins to change as she becomes enchanted by Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
Director Peter Del Monte Ballet or Etoile offers a wonderful looking film with beautiful and authentic locations that give it atmosphere. Setting and story wise it has elements of Dario Argento's Terror at the Opera (1987), Suspiria (1977) and by default with Jennifer Connelly's presence and student theme mirrors Phenomena (1985).
Talented and beautiful Connelly is her likeable self even if at times a little glazed over as Claire Hamilton and handles the spit performance perfectly as well as the dancing. Oddly sporting blue jeans, light top, slip on shoes, Connelly looks as though she's actually just walked of the set of Labyrinth (1986). The cast is solid enough, the setting, cinematography by Acácio de Almeida and staging is perfect along with the dancers. Both Gary McCleery as Jason Forrest and excellent Charles Durning as his Uncle Joshua give watchable energetic performances, even if Durning has to wrestle with the script shenanigans midway through. Cleery has a few inexplicable overblown moments, but is extremely likeable.
Even with a few stunts it's slow burning pace and lack of suspense may not be everyones cup of tea as the supernatural plot unfolds. It all hinges on the spirit of a ballerina killed in 1891 by a stage coach whose final performance was in 'Swan Lake'. It's an old school ghost story, a haunted Opera house stage and possession film, but refreshingly it's subtly handled until the final reel. It boils down to expectation, writers Del Monte, Sandro Petraglia and Franco Ferrini's screenplay walks an old trodden path for the most part; but in an alluring, indirect and delicate way.
Overall, tedious at times; but aesthetically arousing and perfectly watchable.
Director Peter Del Monte Ballet or Etoile offers a wonderful looking film with beautiful and authentic locations that give it atmosphere. Setting and story wise it has elements of Dario Argento's Terror at the Opera (1987), Suspiria (1977) and by default with Jennifer Connelly's presence and student theme mirrors Phenomena (1985).
Talented and beautiful Connelly is her likeable self even if at times a little glazed over as Claire Hamilton and handles the spit performance perfectly as well as the dancing. Oddly sporting blue jeans, light top, slip on shoes, Connelly looks as though she's actually just walked of the set of Labyrinth (1986). The cast is solid enough, the setting, cinematography by Acácio de Almeida and staging is perfect along with the dancers. Both Gary McCleery as Jason Forrest and excellent Charles Durning as his Uncle Joshua give watchable energetic performances, even if Durning has to wrestle with the script shenanigans midway through. Cleery has a few inexplicable overblown moments, but is extremely likeable.
Even with a few stunts it's slow burning pace and lack of suspense may not be everyones cup of tea as the supernatural plot unfolds. It all hinges on the spirit of a ballerina killed in 1891 by a stage coach whose final performance was in 'Swan Lake'. It's an old school ghost story, a haunted Opera house stage and possession film, but refreshingly it's subtly handled until the final reel. It boils down to expectation, writers Del Monte, Sandro Petraglia and Franco Ferrini's screenplay walks an old trodden path for the most part; but in an alluring, indirect and delicate way.
Overall, tedious at times; but aesthetically arousing and perfectly watchable.