Nureyev

The documentary follows the life of Rudolf Nureyev. He was born on a train heading into Siberia, trained in ballet in Leningrad, and in 1961 refused to return to the Soviet Union from Paris and stayed in the West. He went on to become the most famous male dancer in the world. His partnership with Margot Fonteyn is taken as the best known pairing in the history of ballet. Jacqui Morris and David Morris directed the film together. Alongside the archive footage there are newly choreographed dance passages, prepared by Russell Maliphant. The music is by Alex Baranowski. The telling neither exalts Nureyev nor diminishes him; it shows both his power on stage and how hard he could be to be around.