A window into another world: La Danse

Great documentaries are usually challenging more for their content than for their delivery. La Danse: Le Ballet de L’Opera de Paris is entirely unique in that the direct opposite applies. The film, Frederick Wiseman’s 38th in 40 years, follows the company in rehearsal of seven different ballets, information I picked up from the MIFF website. The ballets include Wayne McGregor’s Genus, which I learned from imdb.com, the rehearsal scenes of which I loved, but I only know because I googled his image to figure out who he was while I was watching. The film also features Sasha Waltz’, who’s image I also googled, choreographer of Berlioz’ Romeo et Juliette. The enticing opening scenes feature the images of the city and images of the company's home theatre space the Palais Garnier, I got that from the trailer spiel on YouTube.


The lack of information usually delivered to the audience during a documentary makes Wiseman's style uniquely challenging. There is no dialogue whatsoever with the audience through narrative, explanation or subheadings. Edits and cuts establish context and drama for the audience, but the focus is the subject, the art, and not the commentary explaining it. He is going by the idea that he can set up a camera, click ‘on’ and a film will happen. 

In this way La Dance the documentary parallels beautifully with the art form itself. In dance there is no dialogue or verbal communication between the artist and the audience. Instead we communicate in other ways. It is a highly visual, richly aesthetic art form that can make us laugh out loud, cry, be energised, feel despair and form interpretations likely to differ wildly from the audience member beside us. The way that dance engages with its audience is entirely unique and the film portrayal of one of the world’s best companies demanded similar distinction.  

In La Danse we are voyeurs in the world of artists at their most intense moments of creation and genius. Wiseman opens for us a window into their world from the grueling repetition of rehearsal to their incredible fitness and physical strength combined with the grace and beauty of the art form. He shows to us the process of creating art at the highest level through dialogue between choreographers and dancers and the running of a company of the Paris Opera Ballet’s magnitude through the leadership trials and triumphs of the artistic direction and creative management. 




I came away from this film feeling privileged to have been let into the dancers’ world. To get it, you have to get art, but not particularly dance itself. La Danse is a film for art lovers and dance lovers alike. Like much of Wiseman's work, the film is utterly engaging, completely immersing the viewer in the form.  It will make you want to go out and see some of the beautiful dance we have in Melbourne and you’ll probably have a craving for some French culture as well.

La Danse: Le Ballet de L’Opera de Paris is out this week on limited release. 
For Nova screenings check out http://www.cinemanova.com.au/
For Palace Cinema screenings check out http://www.palacecinemas.com.au/movies/ladanse/