Review of Aurélie Dupont danse l'espace d'un instant

It is not a precise depiction of the workings of the Opéra de Paris. We mostly see scenes of Dupont performing, rehearsing, talking about her career and telephoning the babysitter. She is beautiful, the ballet sequences are exquisite, the direction is understated. You see her perform in La Dame aux Camélias, Le Parc, Raymonda, and a little in Swan Lake. This film works so well because it fails to emphasize the "star" aspect of its subject. Instead the camera dwells on hesitations and doubts during the rehearsals, her anxiety while waiting to make her entrance, and a few astonishing moments of choreography. It includes footage of her dancing at the age of twelve. At one point she mentions that the normal age of retirement is 42, and wonders what she will do after. The relationship between the dancers, and between the dancers and trainers is very poignant. See it.