The White Crow

The White Crow

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2018
Founder	Ralph Fiennes (director), David Hare (screenwriter)
Products	Biographical drama film

The White Crow is a biographical drama released in 2018, scripted by David Hare and directed by Ralph Fiennes. It portrays the life and professional journey of the ballet icon Rudolf Nureyev, with Oleg Ivenko in the leading role.

The film draws inspiration from Julie Kavanagh's biography Rudolf Nureyev: The Life, with its title referencing Nureyev's childhood moniker, "white crow," symbolizing his distinctiveness.

Filming wrapped up in October 2017. Its debut took place at the 2018 Telluride Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, followed by screenings at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Cinemania in Bulgaria, and Febiofest in the Czech Republic. At Tokyo, Ralph Fiennes was honored with the Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, and the film was also a contender for the Tokyo Grand Prix. Distribution dates include 22 March 2019 in the United Kingdom (via StudioCanal) and 26 April 2019 in the United States (through Sony Pictures Classics).

Plot

The narrative unfolds across three timelines: Paris in 1961, Nureyev’s early years, and the beginning of his ballet career six years prior.

Set in Paris during 1961, Rudi tours with the Kirov ballet troupe. Through a planned encounter, he connects with French dancers he had previously admired from afar. Additionally, he develops a relationship with Clara Saint during a stage performance.

Critical response

According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie maintains a favorable approval rating based on multiple reviews, with an average score reflecting generally positive feedback. The critical consensus notes that while The White Crow may not fully capture its subject’s fluid elegance, it effectively introduces a significant chapter in an extraordinary artist’s life.

On Metacritic, it holds a score of 54 out of 100 from eight critics, categorizing it as receiving "mixed or average reviews."

In its coverage, The New York Times referred to the film as "a portrait of the artist as a young man," emphasizing the biographical, psychological, societal, and political elements that culminated in Nureyev’s momentous defection from Russia in 1961. The review commends Fiennes and Hare for their portrayal of Nureyev’s determination and inquisitiveness fueling his dedication to dance and cultural exploration.

External links

• The White Crow at the British Film Institute