Polina (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film unfolds across four European cities: Moscow, where Polina trains at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet; Aix-en-Provence, where she encounters contemporary dance; and Antwerpen and Montpellier, where she navigates the practical challenges of a dancer's life while seeking artistic renewal.

• moscow
• aix-en-provence
• antwerpen
• montpellier
• bolshoi
• setting
• cities

Moscow represents the foundation of Polina's classical training and the demanding world of elite ballet. The Bolshoi Ballet symbolizes both opportunity and rigid discipline, establishing the constraints she later seeks to escape.

• moscow
• bolshoi
• classical ballet
• training
• russia

Polina explores self-discovery through artistic upheaval, the tension between ambition and personal well-being, the search for belonging across different dance communities, and the contrast between classical technique and contemporary expression. The film examines what it means to define one's own artistic identity.

• self-discovery
• ambition
• belonging
• artistic expression
• identity
• dance

Polina's journey reveals that self-discovery in art requires questioning established paths. Her departure from classical ballet and exploration of contemporary dance demonstrates that artistic identity emerges from reconciling technical mastery with personal expression rather than simply following tradition.

• self-discovery
• identity
• artistic choice
• personal expression

The film presents classical ballet as demanding, precise, and emotionally restrained, while contemporary dance becomes a vehicle for personal freedom and emotional release. This contrast drives Polina's artistic crisis and ultimately leads her to synthesize both forms in her own choreography.

• classical ballet
• contemporary dance
• choreography
• artistic expression

The film depicts the physical and emotional toll of elite dance: injuries, being replaced, criticism from mentors, and the isolation that comes with dedicating one's life to art. Polina's father's death reminds her of the family's sacrificed dreams, underscoring the theme that artistic pursuit demands profound personal sacrifice.

• sacrifice
• injury
• pressure
• dedication
• artistic pursuit
• dancer life

Polina is a talented but conflicted Russian ballerina portrayed by Anastasia Shevtsova. Throughout the film, she wrestles with the rigidity of classical ballet against her urge to express herself freely. Her journey is defined by resilience, impulsive choices, and a deep longing to find belonging through dance.

• polina
• ballerina
• protagonist
• dancer
• character
• russia

Bojinski, played by Aleksei Guskov, is the head teacher and choreographer at the Bolshoi Ballet. He represents the demanding, sometimes punitive environment of elite training, pushing Polina to her limits while embodying the pressure and cost of artistic perfection.

• bojinski
• mentor
• teacher
• choreographer
• bolshoi
• elite training

Liria, portrayed by Juliette Binoche, is a choreographer in the contemporary dance world who represents the gatekeeping in modern dance. She rejects Polina's emotional readiness, highlighting the challenges dancers face when transitioning between different artistic worlds.

• liria
• juliette binoche
• choreographer
• contemporary dance
• gatekeeping

Karl, played by Miglen Mirtchev, is a dancer who teaches improvisation and helps Polina reconnect with the joy of movement. He represents second chances and collaboration, ultimately performing with her at the Montpellier Festival.

• karl
• improv
• dance teacher
• collaboration
• montpellier festival

Each city represents a stage in Polina's development: Moscow signifies rigorous classical discipline, Aix-en-Provence introduces the liberating yet challenging world of contemporary dance, and Antwerpen and Montpellier represent the harsh realities of making it as a dancer, auditions, relationships, homelessness, culminating in her synthesis of both styles.

• european journey
• cities
• artistic evolution
• montpellier festival

The film argues that artistic identity emerges from experimentation and reinvention rather than rigid adherence to tradition. Polina's journey, from classical training through rejection to her final Montpellier performance, shows that true artistic expression requires blending technical foundation with personal risk and emotional honesty.

• artistic identity
• voice
• choreography
• synthesis
• personal expression
• artistic growth