A Ballerina's Tale

A Ballerina's Tale is a 2015 documentary film revolving around the career of Misty Copeland, who serves as the narrator of the film as well as its subject. The film premiered on April 19, 2015, at the Tribeca Film Festival.[1] It was released through video on demand on October 13, 2015, prior to opening in a limited release on October 14, 2015, by Sundance Selects.[2] A version of it, which is available on the PBS website, was also aired by PBS stations beginning in February 2016. The film received mostly positive reviews.

A Ballerina's Tale
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNelson George
Produced by
  • Leslie Norville
  • Nelson George
StarringMisty Copeland
Narrated byMisty Copeland
Cinematography
  • Cliff Charles
  • Oskar Landi
  • Nelson George
  • Malika Weeden
  • Nicolas Waterman
  • Jon Dunham
Edited byMalika Weeden
Music by
Production
companies
Urban Romances, Inc.
Distributed bySundance Selects
Release dates
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$125,144 (USA)

Synopsis

The film follows the daily life of Copeland with emphasis on her role as one of the first African-American female soloists to present what Mekado Murphy of The New York Times describes as the process of the dancer.[3][4] The film begins with archival footage of a young Copeland at a small ballet studio and focuses on her cultural impact and professional ascension, despite injuries and other challenges, without delving into her personal history.[5]

Development

On September 20, 2013, Nelson George announced a $40,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund production of a documentary film about the life of Misty Copeland. The campaign raised US$54,251 with 657 backers.[6] Prince contributed a "substantial sum" to the campaign.[7] The film is one of several forms of media publicity surrounding Copeland who has become a trailblazing ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre.[8]

Release

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 19, 2015, accompanied by a ballet performance.[9] Copeland, who narrates the film, spoke following its premiere.[10] Sundance Selects acquired the US distribution rights to the film.[11] The film was released through video on demand on October 13, 2015, and the following day began a limited release in US cinemas.[2] A 55-minute version of it[12] aired beginning on February 8, 2016, as part of PBS' Independent Lens series.[13][14]

Critical response

A Ballerina's Tale received mostly positive reviews. It holds a 73% Fresh rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 7.8/10.[15] It holds a 57 score on Metacritic based on 4 reviews.[16]

Maya Chung for NBCnews.com wrote: "A Ballerina's Tale is one film that is making that impact. The documentary gives an in-depth picture of Copeland's struggles with being black in a predominantly white Ballet world and it chronicles her experience recovering from a leg fracture - one that could've stopped her dream of becoming a principal dancer."[17] Amy Brady from The Village Voice commented: "In A Ballerina's Tale, director Nelson George paints a moving portrait of Copeland that underscores her triumphs over bodily and historical limitations. ... The film is structured around mid-career highlights – Copeland's solo performance in The Firebird at the Metropolitan Opera House, her career-defining role as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake – but it reminds us that her rise to stardom was marked by self-doubt and a need for mentorship."[18]

The film is not considered "eye-opening" according to Louise Blouin Media's Regina Mogilevskaya, but the presentation of Copeland as a performer is what makes the film memorable.[5]

Notes
  1. Zeitchik, Steven (April 14, 2015). "Tribeca 2015: With George Lucas and Monty Python, a fest broadens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  2. "Exclusive Trailer Debut: The Misty Copeland Documentary A Ballerina's Tale". Vanity Fair. September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  3. Murphy, Mekado (March 5, 2015). "Patricia Arquette and Mary J. Blige Starring in Films Added to Tribeca Festival Lineup". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  4. Zumberge, Marianne (April 15, 2015). "Live Performances Heat Up Tribeca Film Festival Screenings". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  5. Mogilevskaya, Regina (April 20, 2015). "Tribeca Film Festival Review: Nelson George's "A Ballerina's Tale"". Blouin Art Info International. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  6. "A Ballerina's Tale". Kickstarter. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  7. Callahan, Yesha. "Watch Prince Perform 'The Beautiful Ones' With Misty Copeland" Archived April 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The Root, April 25, 2016
  8. Sulcas, Roslyn (February 21, 2014). "A Singular Ballerina's Multiple Paths: Misty Copeland Prepares for Release of Her Memoir". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  9. Zeitchik, Steven (April 14, 2015). "Tribeca 2015: With George Lucas and Monty Python, a fest broadens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  10. Prisco, Jaime (March 16, 2015). "Misty Copeland 'A Ballerina's Tale,' Directed by Nelson George, to Debut at 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, with Mary J. Blige Documentary 'The London Sessions'". Classicalite.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  11. McNary, Dave (July 21, 2015). "Misty Copeland's 'A Ballerina's Tale' Bought by Sundance Selects". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  12. "Independent Lens: A Ballerina's Tale". PBS. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  13. Ziv, Stav (February 3, 2016). "A Ballerina's Tale: Misty Copeland Documentary to Air on PBS". Newsweek. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  14. Ziv, Stav (February 8, 2016). "Review 'A Ballerina's Tale' follows Misty Copeland's incredible rise in the ballet world". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  15. "A Ballerina's Tale". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  16. "A Ballerina's Tale". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. Maya Chung (September 30, 2015). "New Film A Ballerina's Tale Shows Misty Copeland's Journey as a Black Ballerina". NBC News. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  18. "Nelson George's A Ballerina's Tale Is a Testament to Misty Copeland's Strength and Talent". Village Voice. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
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