“Polina” follows a gifted dancer on the brink of joining the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet when she decides to radically change gears. “I’m tired of executing other people’s choreography. I want to learn to see the world,” explains Polina (Anastasia Shevtsova) in a new U.S. trailer for the drama. She decides to leave ballet behind to dedicate herself to contemporary dance, a choice that inspires her to move from Russia to France so she can work with Liria Elsaj (Juliette Binoche), a famous choreographer.
Liria is totally unlike the male instructor who taught Polina since childhood. “I don’t want to see a pretty dancer. I want to see Polina,” Liria explains. She isn’t interested in a picture of perfection — she demands to see all of Polina’s dimensions when she moves.
The trailer suggests that in order for Polina to evolve as a dancer she’ll need to evolve as a person. “Look around. An artist is someone who observes the world around them,” Liria urges.
“Polina” is directed by Valérie Müller (“Le monde de Fred”) and Angelin Preljocaj (“Snow White”) and the former penned the script. The film made its world premiere at the Venice Film Fest last year and opens in NY August 25 and LA September 1.
