Polina

Polina's story spans across Moscow, Aix-en-Provence, Antwerpen, and Montpellier, tracing her evolution from strict classical training to contemporary dance exploration. Moscow anchors the narrative in the Bolshoi's rigorous discipline and prestige. Aix-en-Provence introduces a freer, modern-dance sensibility encountered at a festival, challenging Polina's preconceptions. Antwerpen and Montpellier present the harsh realities of a dancer's life, including auditions, relationships, and a final festival moment that tests her resolve.

🎭 Self-Discovery

Polina’s journey is as much about discovering who she is as a dancer as it is about mastering steps. The strict expectations of classical ballet collide with her instinct to express freely. The film follows her attempts to reconcile technique with personal expression, revealing how identity drives artistic choice.

🔥 Ambition and Pressure

Polina faces the demanding, sometimes punitive, environment of elite training. Injuries, replacements, and criticism test her resilience and threaten to derail her ambitions. The tension between dedication to craft and emotional well-being is a constant undercurrent.

🧭 Journey and Belonging

Her travels across Europe expose her to new forms of dance and new communities, yet leave her homeless at times. She searches for a place where art and life align, learning to reinvent herself after setbacks. The story frames dance as both a path to belonging and a solitary pursuit.

💃 Artistic Expression

The narrative contrasts classical choreography with modern dance, pushing Polina to choreograph with a partner and to embrace collaboration. The final performance at the Montpellier Festival symbolizes a synthesis of training, experimentation, and personal growth. Dance is shown as a language through which Polina processes loss, love, and hope.