The Tango Lesson (1997)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Sally Potter

Writer:

Sally Potter (writer)

Release Date:

14 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

On a trip to Paris Sally meets Pablo, a tango dancer. He starts teaching her to dance then she returns to London to work on some "projects"...

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Tango | Dance | Film In Film | Hollywood

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins

Cast

Sally Potter	...	Sally
Morgane Maugran	...	Red Model
Géraldine Maillet	...	Yellow Model
Katerina Mechera	...	Blue Model
David Toole	...	Fashion Designer
George Yiasoumi	...	Photographer
Michele Parent	...	Seamstress
Claudine Mavros	...	Seamstress
Monique Couturier	...	Seamstress
Matthew Hawkins	...	Bodyguard
Simon Worgan	...	Bodyguard
Pablo Verón	...	Pablo
Carolina Iotti	...	Pablo's partner
Zobeida	...	Pablo's Friend
Orazio Massaro	...	Pablo's Friend
Anne Fassio	...	Pablo's Friend
Guillaume Gallienne	...	Pablo's Friend
Michel André	...	Pablo's Friend
Flaminio Corcos	...	Pablo's Friend
Howard Lee	...	Man at Tea Dance
Heathcote Williams	...	Builder
Juan José Czalkin	...	Waiter
Gustavo Naveira	...	Gustavo
Fabián Salas	...	Fabián
Horacio Marassi	...	Shoe Man
David Derman	...	Salon Dancer
Óscar Dante Lorenzo	...	Salon Dancer
Omar Vega	...	Salon Dancer
Carlos Copello	...	Carlos
Olga Besio	...	Olga
Cantilo Peña	...	Hotel Porter
María Noel	...	Movie Executive
Fabián Stratas	...	Movie Executive
Gregory Dayton	...	Movie Executive
Peter Eyre	...	English Tango Fan
Emmanuelle Tertipis	...	Woman in Dressing Room
Rubén Orlando Di Nápoli	...	Master of Ceremonies
Tito Haas	...	Taxi Driver
Alicia Monti	...	Carlos' Partner
María Fernanda Lorences	...	Woman Opening Door
Luis Sturla	...	Couple Opening Door
Amanda Beitia	...	Couple Opening Door
Marcos Woinsky	...	Man Opening Door
Eduardo Rojo	...	Janitor
Óscar Arrribas	...	Man at Synagogue

Directed by
Sally Potter

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sally Potter		writer

Produced by
Simona Benzakein	....	co-producer: France
Diane Gelon	....	associate producer
Óscar Kramer	....	line producer: Buenos Aires
Christian Keller Sarmiento	....	co-producer: Argentina
Christopher Sheppard	....	producer
Cat Villiers	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Fred Frith
Sally Potter

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(as Robby Muller)

Film Editing by
Hervé Schneid

Casting by
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Carlos Conti

Costume Design by
Paul Minter

Makeup Department
Ricardo Fassan	....	hair stylist: Buenos Aires
Christian Gruau	....	hair stylist: Paris
Peter King	....	wig maker
Chantal Leothier	....	makeup artist
Thi-Loan Nguyen	....	makeup artist

Production Management
François-Xavier Bazin	....	unit manager
Philippe Besnier	....	production manager: Paris
Diana Frey	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerome Borenstein	....	first assistant director: Paris
Rodrigo Carvajal	....	second assistant director: Buenos Aires
Nicholas Cubria	....	third assistant director: Buenos Aires
Carlos Gil	....	first assistant director: Buenos Aires
Mel Nortcliffe	....	second assistant director: London
Waldo Roeg	....	first assistant director
Oona Seiler	....	third assistant director: Paris
Michael Viger	....	first assistant director: Paris

Art Department
Fernanda Abadía	....	paintings: Buenos Aires
Mercedes Alfonsín	....	assistant art director: Buenos Aires
Fernando Cardoso	....	assistant art director: Paris
Renaud Colas	....	property master: Paris
Carmen Cornejo	....	paintings: Buenos Aires
Stéphane Cressend	....	assistant art director: Paris
Sergio Gualco	....	property master: Buenos Aires
Bertrand Guinnebault	....	painter: Paris
Pascoli Hermanos	....	construction manager: Buenos Aires
Gilles LaBoulandine	....	construction manager: Paris
Daniel Mauvignier	....	head painter: Paris
Daniel Monroy	....	property assistant: Buenos Aires
Graciela Oderigo	....	art director: Buenos Aires
Marianna Sourrouille	....	set dresser: Buenos Aires
Lucinda Sturgis	....	assistant art director: London
Patrick Widdrington	....	head carpenter: Paris
Marianna Zentchenko	....	assistant art director: Paris

Sound Department
Sophie Chiabaut	....	boom operator
Julie Clemencin	....	dialogue editor
Vincent Guillon	....	assistant sound editor
Gérard Hardy	....	sound
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley artist
Dominic Lester	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Mario Melchiorri	....	assistant foley artist
Gilles Missir	....	adr mixer
Jean-Paul Mugel	....	sound
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Corrinne Raffi	....	adr editor
Patrice Raffi	....	adr editor
Jacques Thomas-Gérard	....	foley mixer

Special Effects by
Tom Cundom	....	special effects supervisor: Buenos Aires
Christian Talenton	....	special effects supervisor: Paris

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	optical cameraman
Prudence Harington	....	model casting: Paris

Stunts
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunt coordinator
Pascaline Girardot	....	stunts: Paris

Camera and Electrical Department
Horacio Acevedo	....	electrician: Buenos Aires
Rubén Bejarano	....	grip: Buenos Aires
Eduardo Broman	....	chief electrician: Buenos Aires
Richard Broome	....	key grip
Álvaro Dolgay	....	generator operator: Buenos Aires
Patrick Gasché	....	electrician: Paris
Moune Jamet	....	still photographer
Richard Kalvar	....	still photographer
Ken Lowe	....	lighting technician
Oona Menges	....	clapper loader
Gustavo Mosquera R.	....	Steadicam operator: Buenos Aires (as Gustavo Mosquera)
Georgui Pinkhassov	....	still photographer
Christopher Porter	....	gaffer
Matías Risi	....	video assist: Buenos Aires
Hugo Senille	....	electrician: Buenos Aires
Gilbert Seybald	....	electrician: Paris
Michel Strasser	....	grip: Paris
Pim Tjujerman	....	focus puller
Hoyte Van Hoytema	....	camera trainee: Paris
Jörg Widmer	....	Steadicam operator: Paris

Casting Department
Alberte Garo	....	extras casting: Paris
Frédérique Moidon	....	casting: Paris

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Doreen Brown	....	costume maker
Jackie Hallatt	....	costume maker
Glen Hills	....	costume maker
John Krausa	....	costume maker
Peter Lewis	....	costume maker
Joanna Roderick	....	costumer
Paula Taratuto	....	wardrobe assistant: Buenos Aires
Ivone Teles	....	wardrobe assistant: Paris
Michael Weldon	....	wardrobe supervisor
Christopher Witt	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Ludovic Berrivin	....	additional post-production assistant
Julie Clemencin	....	assistant editor
Muriel Moreau	....	additional post-production assistant
Sophie Reine	....	additional post-production assistant
Bob Rodger	....	grader
Raphaëlle Urtin	....	additional post-production assistant

Music Department
Thomas Bloch	....	musician: "Ondes Martenot" and "Cristal Bachet"
Ivan Chandler	....	music supervisor
Fred Frith	....	musician: guitar and violin
Franck Lebon	....	music recording mixer

Transportation Department
Roy Hyatt	....	unit driver: London
Andrés Médici	....	truck driver: grip, Buenos Aires
Gustavo Oldán	....	unit driver: Buenos Aires
Mikael Richard	....	unit driver: Paris
Pedro Riobo	....	truck driver: camera, Buenos Aires
Gustavo Soute	....	truck driver: props, Buenos Aires
Carlos Villatini	....	truck driver: lighting, Buenos Aires

Other crew
Sebastian Aloi	....	runner: Buenos Aires
Enrique Beltza	....	motor home: Buenos Aires
Denise Cassotti	....	location manager: Paris
Hélène Chalant	....	production assistant: Paris
Marie-Laure Compain	....	production coordinator: Paris
Carlos Copello	....	additional choreographer: Buenos Aires
Jorge Correa	....	runner: Buenos Aires
Diana Dantés	....	alexander technique teacher: London
Lindy Davies	....	performance consultant
Alexis Delage-Toriel	....	assistant to co-producer: Paris
Walter Donohue	....	story editor
Claudia Doura	....	production assistant: Buenos Aires
Ludovic Duchateau	....	swing gang: Paris
Guillaume Dunand	....	production assistant: Paris
Penny Eyles	....	script supervisor
Barbara Factorovich	....	production coordinator: Buenos Aires
Juan Carlos Fernández	....	minibus coordinator: Buenos Aires
Florence Forney	....	production coordinator: Paris
Diane Gelon	....	production lawyer (as Law Office Diane Gelon)
Marie-Eve Graviou-Dural	....	assistant location manager: Paris (as Marie-Eve Dural)
Roberto Guisado	....	caterer: Buenos Aires
Alberto Hasse	....	location manager: Buenos Aires
Marie-Noelle Hauville	....	production accountant: Paris
Marianne Hoegl	....	pilates trainer: London
Richard Hyland	....	production accountant
Jackie Ingberg	....	assistant location manager: Buenos Aires
María Vázquez Keller Sarmiento	....	entertainment lawyer
Marc Le Hingrat	....	swing gang: Paris
Adriana Maestri	....	sculptor: Buenos Aires
Marcos Maffulli	....	security chief: Buenos Aires
Michael Manzi	....	production assistant
Olivier Martin	....	production assistant: Paris
Steve Masters	....	title designer
Roanne Moore	....	production coordinator
Gustavo Naveira	....	additional choreographer: Buenos Aires
Angela Neillis	....	production secretary
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory liaison
Pedro Porcu	....	truck coordinator: Buenos Aires
Sarah Portal	....	assistant accountant: Paris
María Rosa Pugliese	....	assistant accountant: Buenos Aires
Julio Raffo Jr.	....	runner: Buenos Aires
Julio Raffo	....	production lawyer: Buenos Aires
Amos Field Reid	....	assistant to director
Andreas Reyneke	....	pilates trainer: London
Elie Robert-Nicoud	....	script translator
Fabián Salas	....	additional choreographer: Buenos Aires
Nik Udovicic	....	runner: London
Pablo Verón	....	choreographer
Eric Vidart-Loeb	....	location manager: Paris
Fernando Wajs	....	production accountant: Buenos Aires

Thanks
Kim Ballard	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Adventure Pictures
• Adventure Films
• Arts Council of England
• Cinema Projects
• Eurimages
• European Co-production Fund
• Imagica
• NFC
• NFG Baden-Württemberg
• OKCK Films
• PIE
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• Sales Company
• Sigma Film Productions

Distributors

• Artificial Eye (UK)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Filmark (Brazil) (video)
• Homescreen (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• ID Distribution (France)
• Sony Pictures Classics (USA)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  light equipment
• Audio 24/25  protools supplied by
• Carlo Manzi Rentals  men's costumes
• James Taylor & Son  shoes made by
• Les Dames Augustines  foley recorded at
• Les Traiteurs du Vern  catering: Paris
• Massaro  shoes
• Musicalites  music supervision
• Post Media  production services
• Sarmiento, Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal  entertainment lawyer
• Sonodi  ADR recording
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Studios Merijthur  music recorded at
• Tru-Cut  negative cutting
• Twickenham Film Studios  re-recording
• Video Reference  avid provided by

Also Known As:

La leçon de tango (France)
La lección de tango (Argentina)
Tango-Fieber (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief language and some violent images.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK | France | Argentina | Germany | Netherlands

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Finland:S | France:U | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Adventure Pictures

Quotes:

Sally: It doesn't suit me to follow. It suits me to lead, and you can't deal with that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bleeder (1999)

A provocative film about silence and power

As many reviewers have noted, there isn't a lot of talking in this movie, and indeed, this makes for a slow first half hour, but as the movie unfolds you realize that silence is the genius of the film. It's appropriate that writer/director/star Sally Potter has chosen tango for her subject, for, as we see in the film, tango at its best is about two dancers communing with each other, silently and sharply.

Sally and Pablo, the Argentinean dancer co-star, connect immediately as Pablo realizes Sally's seriousness and passion to the art of tango, and the two commune in various dance scenes, as well as through the one good conversation they have about believing in God. But eventually this communion breaks down as the duo consider exploring romance, and then Sally and Pablo do a whole lot of dancing--instead of talking. In the end, I think they realize that their relationship is based on a kind of mutual pain/joy: the pain of alienation that Sally experiences in her job as a director and that Pablo feels as an artist, and the joy Sally feels as a creator and Pablo as a dancer for whom dancing is like a religion. This joy is evident in a memorable scene where Pablo dances all over the kitchen while making dinner for Sally, using every kitchen utensil as a rhythmic instrument. Besides dancing, there is also a lot of gazing in this movie--mostly Sally gazing at Pablo, and on the larger scale, the viewer gazing at the two dancing. Part of Sally's fascination with tango, and indeed the way she became enraptured by it, stems from the sheer joy of watching. Sally exercises a kind of powerful intrusiveness in her gaze, and it is this that makes her truly dangerous, and more of a leader than a follower as Pablo notes. With this in mind, the subplot involving a movie Sally pitches about models being killed perhaps by their lovesick director starts to make sense--for in this case and in Sally's case, the art of looking has become a bit like murder, as the viewer subsumes the object into him/herself and thereby robs it of its autonomy. As Pablo says to Sally after their first public performance, Sally's intense gaze robs him of his freedom and blocks his artistic ability; at the same time, though, it is precisely this gaze that fuels the uncontainable joy of Pablo and Sally's two other dance teachers. In the end I think this movie asks more questions than it answers, but it certainly dwells on an unsuccessful relationship that somehow manages to fulfill at the same time as it intrudes and violates. We may like to think of tango as a dance of love and communion, but it can also be about power and control, and in this sense Sally uses tango as a metaphor for her relationship that transcends words yet can't subsist on silence.