Transferring ballet to film has always been a difficult task. Part of its beauty comes in witnessing the dance unfold before one's eyes, and such elements as close-ups and editing intrude on the dancer's and the choreographer's art. This version of the Christmas classic directed by Carroll
Ballard attempts to rework a highly praised stage production for the screen, and while it is not entirely successful as a dance film, Ballard does capture the uniqueness of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's revolutionary production. The story follows Clara (played by both Vanessa Sharp and Patricia
Barker), a 12-year-old whose real world becomes magical one Christmas, when her toys ...
Released:
1986
Rated:
G
Length:
84 mins