At the height of his fame, Steven McRae, a brilliant principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in London, injured his Achilles tendon and collapsed on stage. His career seems over. However, after 2 years of absence, accompanied by his coaches and the company's medical team, he is following a special program to return to his highest level. Despite adversity, Steven McRae intends to return to the stage and dance the most prestigious roles in the repertoire again.
Unknown in France STEVEN MCRAE is a star in England.
He grew up in Australia, in the suburbs of Sydney. His parents are mechanics and his father is a drag racing fan.
He is a little red-haired boy, puny, shy. It evolves in this
world of cars, car races, oil smells,
of roaring engines... He even imagines becoming
pilot one day as he loves speed. But, by going to look
her sister in a dance class, it's a revelation. Like a
call. He wants to dance!
"It was the first time I felt that way. It was extraordinary and I didn't want it to stop. Ever. Dancing was freedom."
10 years later, at 17, he won the Lausanne prize, the most
big dance competition for young dancers. At the end of
competition, the director of the prestigious Royal Ballet school
from London asked him to become his student...He moved to London where he worked hard until he became the star dancer of the "Royal Ballet".
The filmmaker met him for the first time somewhat by chance in 2011 and the project of making a film about the dancer had been on his mind for a long time...
The right moment arrives when Steven gets injured, a taboo subject in dance circles. The idea for the documentary is there and Steven agrees. They exchange, get to know each other, sympathize.
The filming without embarrassment and without modesty goes deep into Steven's intimacy and sensitivity without ever sinking into voyeurism.
Steven Carrell shows and tells the fragility of life, the vulnerability of a man but also his ability to get back up with this strong story, with powerful narrative forces and dramatic issues worthy of fiction:
"I want to make a particularly beautiful film, print the body and mind of Steven McRae on film. I want to follow him as closely as possible when he dances. Feel him breathe. Experience every emotion with him. Dare to use framing that borrows heavily from photography."
I like to frame at shoulder height, or leave the frame empty around a character. Filming very graphic lines to give breadth to the image, to question, and above all to accentuate the idea that we don't tell one story like any other."
Some training or dancing scenes or "Steven Mcrae is alone" are incredibly beautiful and nothing to envy of "Black Swan".
By the way, if you thought like me that classical dancers are all skinny, you will be surprised, "Mcrae" looks more like a Rugby player all in muscle and power.
Obviously the soundtrack of the film is essential and it magnifies the emotions (There is music, symphonic music obviously but also string quartet and electronics)
It's a favorite that I highly recommend even if you know nothing about classical dance, which is my case.
