Bolshoi Babylon

2015

1h 26m

Documentary

List

78%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

50%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

In 2013, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre is rocked by an acid attack scandal.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

It's not perhaps the handbags-and-hair-pulling exposé we were hoping for, but it looks splendid, and the contributors, including Russian Premier Dimitry Medvedev, are often as interesting for what they don't say as what they do.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 23, 2016

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Like the ballet itself, the Bolshoi may look beautiful from the stalls, but behind the scenes it's blood, sweat and tears ...

Rated: 3/5

Jan 10, 2016

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

The film may not fill you with admiration for Filin himself, who is a charismatic but very divisive figure, but it certainly induces a sense of awe about the work of the company itself.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 8, 2016

Full Review

Bertie Archer

One Room With A View

A serious case of style over substance and opulence over observation.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 9, 2019

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Matthew Anderson

CineVue

... Inquisitive rather than intrusive and asking more question than it answers. However, it's refreshing that Read and Franchetti's work is not simply an ode to the ballet in all its splendour.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 8, 2019

Full Review

Stephen Heyman

Vogue

Spliced between all this inscrutable psychodrama are scenes of sumptuous dancing, though balletomanes will no doubt be let down that there isn't more discussion of ballet itself.

May 3, 2017

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Audience Member

The gap between management & worker/performers widen as egotism & its inherent injust corruption sets in.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

interesting but could do with an edit

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unfortunately due to the secrecy surrounding the Bolshoi, it didn't feel like we were able to get in deep to any of the topics discussed. The documentary teetered on the surface of a few topics, the lives of the dancers, the acid attack, the struggles of management at the Bolshoi. But we didn't really get any depth. Disappointing documentary for such an interesting subject!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Revealing insight into the backstage backbiting at one of the world's greatest ballet companies

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

found very interesting to see behind the temperamental scenes of Bolshoi which I love to watched streamed live some Sundays at GFT ...having read the blurb I knew there was little dancing and am intrigued to see if outspoken Vladimir Urin survives ... he was nicely scathing in the passing of Russian interference. Watch it for what it is - a documentary!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

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Nicolas Read

Director

Anastasiya Mes'kova

Actor

Nikolay Tsiskaridze

Actor

Dmitry Medvedev

Actor

Alex Kolton

Actor

Maria Allash

Actor

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Synopsis

In 2013, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre is rocked by an acid attack scandal.

Director: Nicolas Read
Producer: Mark Franchetti
Production Co: Red Box Films, Red Velvet Films, Altitude Film Entertainment
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Russian
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 26m