Assessment

The Red Shoes, Black Swan, Billy Elliott. So far, so predictable. I had been a residential ballet student from the age of 8 to 15 and related to this story though. At that vulnerable age, being tested daily and my figure constantly monitored for any 'undesirable' changes, I soon found a needy self esteem and survival being balanced with a need to hit out. That hasn't been portrayed in anything I've seen before. Fortunately, you don't have to have gone through that to enjoy this short. Incisive direction, great cinematography and brilliant use of particular location (it looks like they used Richmond Park - Royal Ballet School) create a rhythm around a constant road-movie type forward momentum. I would have liked to have seen a longer version of this film though, which at 10mins, with such strong themes on display is ambitious in scope and not quite enough time to bring about a fuller cycle of intent in an otherwise masterful piece of work. Watch out deer.