MARGOT
The 2009 movie that I watched on television on New Year's Eve entitled 'Margot' was an unbelievable insult to two of the world's greatest artists. I managed to sit through it but was disgusted by the whole thing.
This is a cheap movie, done to make a quick buck, using cheap ideas, and actors who obviously had no knowledge of the personalities of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. The two Ronnies, whom I saw doing a skit in a nightclub many years ago had a much better understanding of their characters and Dr. Arias who was there at the time in his wheelchair was nothing like the character on the screen.
The casting for this movie was pathetic apart from the actor who played the part of Frederick Ashton. As for Eric Bruhn, he was hardly there, in spite of the fact that he played a huge part in Rudi's life. What a wonderful story this could have been if the object had not been to dwell on the possible sexual relationship between Rudi and Margot. The producers of this film have really taken advantage of the fact that these great artists are dead and are thus unable to respond themselves to this trash.. It makes me feel ashamed that young ballet students will have seen this wicked interpretation of a wonderful person.
I found it difficult to watch the weak interpretation of the actor who played the part of Rudi. It was quite sickening. Rudi was a powerful being with so many changes to his personality and none of this came over. The actor's face was completely wrong for a start as was his voice. It was as if those concerned had never actually seen Rudi, let alone studied his personality and worked hard on trying to resemble him in some way. Margot was not the Margot I knew, who was bubbly and friendly with everyone. Where was her lovely laugh? This actor had completely the wrong shaped face to start with.
As for the story line, it was taken from Meredith Daneman's book which went into great detail about Rudi and Margot's personal life and the author went overboard with intimate details of Margot's body. Completely tasteless! There was nothing there about Margot's exciting professional life. It was all based on a sexual affair for the mere purpose of shocking, causing a stir and saying, 'Aren't I brave?" The movie is a write-off. Burn it!
