269. The White Crow; movie review

THE WHITE CROW
Cert 15
124 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, moderate sex, nudity

Ralph Fiennes speaking in Russian for the duration of a film? Well, this is a novelty.
But it shouldn't be - apparently, Fiennes is one of the most feted Western actors in Russia because it is known that he can speak the language.
It is hard to know whether his stock will have risen by his participation in a movie about one of the Soviet Union's most famous defectors.
Fiennes directs and stars The White Crow which chronicles the period leading up to Rudolf Nureyev's dart into the arms of the French police.
He chose Oleg Ivenko from the Tartar State Ballet company to play Nureyev because he believed he had a latent acting ability and "is a strong ballet dancer who has physical proximity to Nureyev.”
It is no surprise, therefore, that the many ballet scenes are dazzling but Ivenko also passes muster in grabbing the movie's lead.
The film begins with an interview with Nureyev's mentor (Fiennes) who denies the dancer was politically motivated.
Instead, it is surmised that he moved to the West to further his career.
However, it is interesting that his sexuality is only a sidebar to the film and yet other historical interpretations are that it played a part in his thinking.
The White Crow follows Nureyev from his poverty-stricken childhood in the Soviet city of Ufa to his time as a determined student dancer in Leningrad.
From the outset, it is clear there is something different about the headstrong youngster with the dazzling feet.
At just 22 he flew from St Petersburg to Paris which the Kirov Ballet Company in his first journey outside the Soviet Union.
But however much the ballet and KGB officers try to keep him in check, his free spirit leads him to break boundaries both in his performance and discovery of alternative culture.
As they become increasingly suspicious about his behaviour and friendship to Paris party girl Clara Saint (Adèle Exarchopoulos)
I found the story of Nureyev interesting and, as said, Ivenko shone on his movie debut.
But The White Crow, while looking good, lacks an edge and gives little clue to what went on in Nureyev's head during its final scenes.
It struck me that Fiennes concentrated so much on the detail that he forgot about the drama - and that meant it did not thrill as much as might have done.

Reasons to watch: New interpretation of a famous story
Reasons to avoid: Doesn't grip as tightly as it should

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? He lived with HIV from diagnosis in 1984 until his death from cardiac arrest in1993 at the age of 54 years. He is buried in the Russian cemetery in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois close to Paris.

The final word. David Hare (writer): “Ralph Fiennes is really the best-loved Western actor in Russia. If you walk down a street in Moscow or St Petersburg with Ralph, it’s like walking with a Bollywood star in Mumbai. They love him to bits."

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