[BALLET 422
opens Friday March 13th in Cleveland exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]
Review by Bob
Ignizio
If you've ever
wanted to know how a new ballet comes into existence, then look no
further than BALLET 422. Director Jody Lee Pipes shows us
every aspect – and I do mean EVERY – of what it takes for this
art form to move from concept to stage, right down to a scene showing
fabric for the costumes being dyed. What we don't get from Pipes “fly
on the wall” approach to making this film is the human side of it
all.
The ballet we
witness being born is the work of Justin Peck, a 25 year old dancer
with the New York City Ballet. We see plenty of his talent,
commitment, and hard work, but there's precious little in the film
about who he is, what inspired his work, and what his emotional
connection to it is. As much as I get tired of the “talking heads”
approach to documentaries at times, this one could have benefited
from an interview or two.
