Touching sensitive nerves a little tentatively when a firm prod would have been preferable, Bolshoi Babylon dances around some of the harder issues at hand, remaining inquisitive rather than intrusive and asking more question than it answers
Bolshoi Babylon
✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
United Kingdom · 2015
1h 24m
Director Mark Franchetti, Nick Read
Starring Sergei Filin, Maria Allash, Alexander Budberg, Anastasiya Meskova
Genre Documentary
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This documentary explores the history of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, home to one of the world's most prestigious ballet companies. It offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look into the theatre as it is rocked by a shocking acid attack scandal in 2013.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
“Babylon” actually provides little more than a lot of vague insinuations. Exasperatingly, it doesn’t even offer more detail on the Dmitrichenko affair.
More interestingly, it paints the Bolshoi as a microcosm of Russia, in thrall to tradition but beset by greed, backstabbing and corruption.
The Hollywood Reporter by Leslie Felperin
Bolshoi Babylon explores the bizarre case in more detail, but grows even more interesting when it examines how this storied cultural institution struggles to survive tempestuous politics both inside and outside the theater walls.
Time Out London by Trevor Johnston
We’re all set for sparks to fly, but unfortunately reality doesn’t quite live up to the set-up.
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