A singular achievement in the aesthetic combination of physical and emotional expression, The Red Shoes radiates a Technicolor phantasmagoria of art, desire, and dance and stands as the best of iconic filmmakers Powell and Pressburger.
In one of cinema's most epic backstage dramas, aspiring ballerina Vicky is torn between her dedication to dance and her desire to love. Her imperious instructor, Lermontov, demands she forgets anything but ballet, but Vicky begins to fall for the charming young composer Julian Craster. With mounting levels of emotional and physical stress, Vicky must choose to pursue either her art or her romance, a decision that carries serious consequences. [135 min; drama; English]
"To rush 'into the jaws of Hell,' that's the artist's duty, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger wouldn't have it any other way." — Fernando F. Croce, Cinepassion
"Even the most cynical viewer cannot help but find themselves dazzled by the beauty of the production and the haunting nature of the narrative." — Brian Eggert, Deep Focus Review
"It is one of the great films about creating art ... I couldn't bear the thought of never seeing it again." — Allen Almachar, The MacGuffin
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