Just what is it about ballet dancers in movies that they all have to have gnarly feet, eating disorders, self harming issues, be generally unhealthy and be obsessive and plain crazy?
Well if you are expecting this movie to break from those tropes this is the wrong one. It even manages to throw in another disorder to the crazy ballerina pile, incest.
That is right this is a movie about a ballerina who apparently gave her son to her own mother to raise while she pursued her dancing career and now she is back in his life. But for some reason her and her son decide to embark on an incestuous affair. And that isn't a spoiler by the way that is the premise of this movie from the outset.
There is nothing really explored as to why this situation has occurred nor at any point does the son and mother discuss their motivations for their acts. It is basically numerous sex scenes with very little in the way of dialogue. Strangely enough the mother does seem to have a partner at the start of the movie but with him being replaced by the son he is never seen again. At no point is he there to ask what happened to the relationship, he is simply removed from the narrative. There are some hints that the mothers own parents were disturbed, yet its hardly enough to fill in the blanks of the narrative.
While this is similar in tone to The Piano Teacher it doesn't have the same emotional impact. Its also not surprising this was directed by a woman, its highly unlikely a man would have been given the green light to film such a movie. As people would have questioned his motives for making a movie about incest. Its also German and centred on Berlin where apparently anything goes. Maybe these movies are "trendy" in certain far left leaning places like there.
While it seems competently shot there are some very odd camera angle choices which can look absurd. There are also plenty of close ups of feet for some reason. There is also a very strange BDSM performance theatre scene involving the son, like I said this is all "very Berlin" in tone.
This is unlikely to be picked up by many platforms or to be seen by many people. Although I am sure that for those certain individuals who have a "thing" for the subject matter will be its biggest fans.
While some people are saying female directors are the future of cinema, based on this showing its unlikely cinema will survive.
A niche viewing experience based on the belief that taboo subjects should be on the big screen, produced by those who lack moral judgement and common sense.
The only plus was that at least the main character had the physique of a ballerina.
The ending is also very unsatisfying and doesn't resolve anything.
