Customer Reviews

Sylvie Guillem at Work [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This appears to be the first significant piece of documentary/performance footage of the Divine Sylvie ever released commercially. It dates from 1987, when Sylvie was 22 years old and still the star of the POB under Nureyev. It is mostly rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, with some performance in both traditional and modern roles. Obviously, it's value lies in the footage of Sylvie in motion; the filmaker's techniques and narration are distractions to be ignored ("... like trying to catch a moment of eternity in a butterfly net"). I have seen new copies of this video sell for $250 on the internet. Good luck finding one, but there is an alternative.

A recent search indicates that 35 libraries in the US have this video in their circulating collections. I obtained one through inter-library loan fairly quickly. See your local reference librarian or library system website about this.

Sylvie has said that she doesn't really believe in recorded ballet. The amount of footage of her available is limited; every minute is priceless. This video is a must for the true Sylvie fanatic.

P.S: This video is copy protected using Macrovision, so you can't copy it unless you buy one of those converter boxes to defeat the copy protection. But this would be a copyright violation, and is therefore out of the question. I know you wouldn't stoop to this, but each of us is responsible for his own actions.

I have an old recording of this documentary from when it aired on A&E network in 1989. I would love to be able to loan it to my ballet students but will not risk my copy. This is the best dance documentary I've seen and it truly needs to be released on DVD for everyone to enjoy!

Sylvie Guillem was a breathtaking dancer at the time this film was made. Footage of her is in consequence very valuable. Unfortunately, however, the conception of this documentary was distressingly poor. For example: the film constrains the viewer to share the persona of an obsessive male voyeur (complete with inane and/or inappropriate observations in a male voiceover), virtually stalking Mlle. Guillem throughout the film. This is highly bizarre and disturbing--not to mention distracting--addition to the traditional documentary style. In addition, this approach keeps Guillem herself very much at a distance. Partly for this reason, the film is also very boring; its makers could not even manage a meaningful interview with Guillem. In spite of such inadequacies, however, the film does (occasionally) allow one some small insight into the daily life of this amazing ballerina. For this reason, special fans of Guillem may still want to see it (her "Breakfast with the Arts" television appearance was 10,000 times better!). General viewers and ballet fans will probably want to avoid; this is one of the worst ballet documentaries ever.