Suzanne Farrell - Elusive Muse
by Anne Belle, Deborah Dickson, Theodore S. Berger
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Donna Holly, George Balanchine, Jacques d'Amboise, Jorge Donn, Suzanne FarrellDirector: Anne Belle, Deborah Dickson, Theodore S. Berger
Cinematographer: Don Lenzer
Producer: Anne Belle
Editor: Deborah Dickson
Producer: Catherine Tambini
Producer: David Singer
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-07-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Winstar
Movie Reviews of Suzanne Farrell - Elusive Muse
Movie Review: Great dancing, interesting life
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1970, Suzanne Farrell, who since the mid-60s had become the latest of Mr. B's "muse-ballerinas", angrily quit the New York City Ballet. Balanchine's obsession had become smothering, to the point where the much-younger Farrell considered suicide. He was married (to another former muse), and Farrell married another dancer in the company. To Mr. B, this was a direct slap in the face, and to Farrell it was the only way out. The situation quickly escalated. Even 30 years later, she bursts into tears at the memory of essentially threatening Balanchine with an ultimatum. Balanchines response, of course, was equally stony, and Farrell walked out on her mentor.
This sad, even sordid story is shocking to those who want to believe ballet is an endless stream of ribbons and tutus. This documentary of the legendary ballerina is a good balance between artistic and personal. There are clips of the younger, beautiful Farrell dancing in works like "Tzigane" and "Midsummer's Night Dream." There are also interviews with Farrell's husband Paul Meija, and other important people in Farrell's life, including her stage-mother mom.
Life many documentaries it's essentially self-centered, and thus many other NYCB notables seem to not exist at all. Patricia McBride, Allegra Kent, Edward Villela, and others whome Farrell presumably danced with are not present for the documentary. Mr. B of course is no longer here, so we have to take Farrell's word about their relationship. The documentary also has some interesting omissions: Peter Martins is conspicuously absent, although Jacque d'Amboise and Arthur Mitchell provide witty, wry commentary.
The story has a happy ending: Farrell eventually returned to the company, and danced for Mr. B until his death. Farrell is a good interview subject: she's surprisingly expressive and candid. At times the documentary felt almost voyeuristic. Farrell reads an extremely personal love letter from Balanchine, and there are some home videos of the teenaged Farrell frolicking on vacation with the much older, besotted Balanchine. With her long wispy hair, Lolita-like face, and bold, sassy dancing style (Farrell became famous for jutting her hips out in off-balance motions and once portrayed a stripper in a ballet) the older, much more reflective Suzanne provides a poignant contrast to her youthful image.
A good supplement to this documentary would be Farrell's autobiography, which goes into more detail about her pre-and-post-Balanchine years.
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