Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

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Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

Released May 24, 2017

1h 30m

Documentary

Music

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17 Reviews

71%

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500+ Ratings

Wendy Whelan joined the New York City Ballet in 1984 as an apprentice and became its principal dancer in 1991. She is a highly respected and beloved figure in the dance world. Whelan is followed as she confronts the limitations that time has placed on her body and learns to adapt to a new role in the dance community.

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Laura Molzahn

Chicago Reader

The film offers a trove of insights into the world of dance, including many glimpses of famed choreographers and fellow performers, and reveals a performer as remarkable for her warmth and candor as for her singular artistry.

Jul 27, 2017

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

"Restless Creature" isn't a mere celebration of a great artist; it's a moving portrait of what happens when that artist confronts the possibility of not being able to make that art any more.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 25, 2017

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

Seeing Whelan move with grace and elegance across the stage is as much storytelling as you need, but this all access documentary paints a full portrait and explains her importance in the field.

Rated: B+

Jun 16, 2017

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Andrea Thompson

Cultured Vultures

It is impossible not to root for this woman as she struggles to heal her body, go out on a high note, and discuss all the intimacies of her profession.

Rated: 9/10

Jan 30, 2019

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Michael Wade Simpson

culturevulture.net

It is a powerful and moving documentary about one artist choosing to rise above the seemingly insurmountable obstacles placed upon her by age, injury, and ballet itself.

Dec 19, 2017

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

The documentary Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan speaks not only to fans of ballet and elite athletes, but also to everyone captivated by determination, self-awareness, and a commitment to pursuing what they love in life, despite serious setbacks.

Aug 29, 2017

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Audience Member

"The beauty of your particular approach is that you-- you actually weren't strategizing all of those things. You weren't living your life like a chess board. You were just dancing." Absolutely beautiful, aching, yet positively restless.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Very honest and fascinating portray of an exceptionally restless ballerina. This documentary is close second to "First Position" and as good as "Dancer"

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Wendy has a gentle soul and is obviously very humble and respectful of herself and those around her as shown in her interaction with others. At a time I when Hollywood is being exposed for its abuse of power, she's exactly the opposite. A shining example of making to the top and acting like you're just one of the others. Loved her and this movie about her.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really good documentary about the former lead dancer at the New York City Ballet. 46 years old, realizing her 30 year career is almost over, and how she deals with it, as well as a major injury that speeds up the process.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Beautiful movie. Well done documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

A brilliant and enjoyable journey with one of the greatest dancers ever to grace a US stage.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Linda Saffire

Director

Adam Schlesinger

Director

Wendy Whelan

Actor

Diana DiMenna

Producer

Linda Saffire

Producer

Adam Schlesinger

Producer

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Synopsis

Wendy Whelan joined the New York City Ballet in 1984 as an apprentice and became its principal dancer in 1991. She is a highly respected and beloved figure in the dance world. Whelan is followed as she confronts the limitations that time has placed on her body and learns to adapt to a new role in the dance community.

Director: Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
Producer: Diana DiMenna, Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
Distributor: Abramorama
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $147.8K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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