Birds of Paradise

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2:02

Birds of Paradise

R

2021

1h 53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Kate Sanders is an ambitious and gifted, if tomboyish, aspiring ballerina from Virginia who, because of her low-income status, is given a scholarship to attend a prestigious ballet school in Paris, France. Upon arriving at the cutthroat, internationally-renowned institution, her confidence and emotional fortitude are tested by a beautiful, mysterious fellow dancer, Marine Durand, who recently lost her brother (and dance partner) to suicide. While confrontational at first, Kate and Marine’s relationship evolves into an emotionally-charged, competitive union beset by lies, sexual awakening and, ultimately, emotional breakthrough as they risk everything to win the school’s ultimate prize: a contract to join the Opéra national de Paris.

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Heather Hogan

Autostraddle

11/02/2021

Birds of Paradise is a fine little lesbian diversion for a moody day. Worst case, you'll remember how good Diana Silvers is in Booksmart and watch that again.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

09/29/2021

The dancers are very good, and Jacqueline Bisset playing that devil -- she was absolutely outstanding.

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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (LAist)

09/29/2021

High class trash... It is a film that you don't necessarily feel proud of yourself for enjoying as much as you do.

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

02/23/2023

3/5

The visual flair + bizarre dance sequences are quite fun to watch, and the two young leads are terrific, but the film further perpetuates the notion that ballet is creepy and filled with terror.

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Jason Flatt

But Why Tho?

01/16/2023

8.5/10

Birds of Paradise is not a straightforward relationship between its main characters, but neither is any dynamic between two teenagers.

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John McDonald

Australian Financial Review

11/10/2021

By the end it feels like an episode of Project Runway.

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Emily P

@RT32353619 07/09/2024

A complex film, noticably misunderstood by many reviewers. It is undeniable that depite being arguably distasteful, the subplots of suggested lesbianism and incest make the movie more intriguing.

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Sam N

@RT42784134 06/12/2024

Honestly I don't know what to say - the entire worm-eating club was trippy and not in a good way. The "last to stop dancing" off was obscure and added nothing to the plot other than declaring competitiveness between the girls, which is already heavily covered throughout the film as it is the entire goal of the ballet school, force competition between teenagers. The conflict between the two girls was over unreasonably quick. I came for the lesbian implications but it was more of a "let's almost kiss to turn a straight guy on" and "maybe I committed incest with my brother," which are both tropes I tend to stay away from. I enjoyed the whole "ruining yourself and your personal relationships for success/fame" theme of the conclusion/epilogue but it was otherwise quite confusing.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 11/20/2023

A mixed bag trying a bit too much to shock but more good here than bad.

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Cees T

@RT15093300 10/14/2023

Annoying drama that's still boring at 6x. 4/10 - Very bad.

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03/07/2022

1.5 out of 5 stars. Its a dark ballet story about girls training and competing. While getting involved in drama, sex, drugs, ect. Young adults experimenting and lots of drugs and sex. The plot is dull. The direction is one trippy arthouse film project that has more substance on colorful and mediation music than having any memorable characters and story. Tedious performances. Boring script does make this film very forgettable.

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Fong Kok Hoong F

@RT29722865 12/23/2021

BLACK SWAN meets SUSPIRIA in this rivalling tale about two prima ballerinas vying for a revered prize to join Opéra national de Paris pirouettes with glittery haunted dollhouse aesthetics, leaps with thrilling psychological suspense and lands with a thud of resounding banality.

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Sarah Adina Smith

Director

Diana Silvers

Kate Sanders

Kristine Froseth

Marine Durand

Jacqueline Bisset

Madame Brunelle

Stav Strashko

Valentine Louvet

Osiel Gouneo

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Birds of Paradise: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Kate Sanders is an ambitious and gifted, if tomboyish, aspiring ballerina from Virginia who, because of her low-income status, is given a scholarship to attend a prestigious ballet school in Paris, France. Upon arriving at the cutthroat, internationally-renowned institution, her confidence and emotional fortitude are tested by a beautiful, mysterious fellow dancer, Marine Durand, who recently lost her brother (and dance partner) to suicide. While confrontational at first, Kate and Marine’s relationship evolves into an emotionally-charged, competitive union beset by lies, sexual awakening and, ultimately, emotional breakthrough as they risk everything to win the school’s ultimate prize: a contract to join the Opéra national de Paris.

Director: Sarah Adina Smith
Screenwriter: Sarah Adina Smith
Production Co: Anonymous Content, Everything Is Everything
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2021
Runtime: 1h 53m