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A luminous technique defines the documentary “Swan Song” as it unfurls its saga of famed ballerina Karen Kain’s final act as artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada: the helming of a new production of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Kain had never directed a ballet. So, although it might not seem like a high-art kind of word, let’s just say she picked a doozy. While archival images of her own performances underscore that, as one of Canada’s most celebrated ballerinas, Kain’s timing was impeccable, the timing of her maiden directing venture was less so. Kain had planned to retire after the world premiere of the ballet set for 2020. A global pandemic pushed the premiere two years.

Director Chelsea McMullan, along with co-writer and producer Sean O’Neill, have crafted a work that echoes the artform’s grace and rigor, physical demands and details. As one of...