Grand Jeté

As a kid watching 'Siskel and Ebert at the Movies', I loved Roger Eberts description that movies take you to places you've never been and introduce you to people and lives you'll never encounter.

This movie fits that description freakishly well.

While it's a very watchable film, the characters come across as the last 3 survivors on earth ( there are NO supporting characters) and while fascinating to watch, their personalities fail to elicit any sympathy. I didn't like the characters; I didn't dislike the characters; but I was still too far removed to develop any empathy for anyone.

And for a movie set in Berlin, I expected at least some scenes of architecture, culture, etc, but alas, whereas I met characters I normally wouldn't meet, I never felt that I was traveling anywhere outside of 3-4 studio sets that could have been filmed anywhere.

This is not just a bad film - it's a horrible one. Are we really supposed to normalize sick, disturbing "relationships" between an adult woman and a teenager? If the roles were reversed, the outrage would be massive, and rightly so. She should be in jail, not romanticized or portrayed as some kind of sympathetic character.

What frustrates me most is how cinema often shows only the "bad man-teen" dynamic, but when it's a woman involved, suddenly it's treated as less serious or even "taboo exciting." That double standard is disgusting. Exploitation is exploitation, no matter who the adult is.

On top of all that, the storytelling is weak, the characters flat, and the message extremely harmful. This film fails both as art and as morality. Zero stars if I could.

And maybe even "wrong" love - well no pun intended as always. There have been other movies that have delved into the human psyche and may have given us a better overall picture (I reckon that can count as a pun too) ... but this is also quite well made. It never reaches those heights ... but it is well played and may be a bit more "silent" and slow than other movies.

Try to suspend your disbelief, be prepared to be shocked (not so much from the nudity hopefully, but the relationship the two main characters have ... and their "connection") ... also be prepared to fill in the blanks ... to read between the lines (silences) ... the movie challenges the viewer ... performances are really good. And casting a real dancer in the main role may have helped it a lot.

"Grand Jeté" is a heart-wrenching drama that explores the complexities of love and sacrifice. The film tells the story of a talented ballet teacher who is torn between her career aspirations and her responsibilities as a mother. After living apart from her young son for many years, she is unexpectedly reunited with him, and they soon discover an undeniable connection that goes beyond familial bonds.

The film's nuanced performances and stunning choreography create a poignant and moving portrayal of the beauty of dance and the power of family. The lead actress delivers a powerful performance, conveying the struggle of a mother who has had to put her dreams on hold in pursuit of her career. The scenes in which she dances the titular Grand Jeté are breathtaking and inspiring.

The themes of forgiveness, redemption, and self-discovery are beautifully woven into the plot, making "Grand Jeté" a thought-provoking and emotionally charged experience. The film's touching conclusion will leave you feeling uplifted and moved, a testament to the power of love and the healing potential of the arts.

Overall, "Grand Jeté" is a beautifully crafted film that showcases the talent of its cast and crew. It's a must-see for anyone who appreciates the beauty of dance and the complexities of human relationships.

Another European mood piece. Inferred narrative, incessant close-ups, panning, tracking, and angled camera shots, minimal dialogue. It's all here, quite claustrophobic and irritating. Many are talking about the daring incest plotline; to be honest, if the characters hadn't casually mentioned the mother/son relationship (about three times), I would never have known; it's handling is quite subtle, there's no indication in their behavior that distinguish this from student/teacher, or simply older/younger. Dialogue is so sparse (generally no more than two lines exchanged between characters at any given time), one can't be sure what's going on in the story; the last 20-30 minutes of the film has no conversations, none; we're treated to a little twist, fade to white, it's months later, and our two characters never exchange a single word, or share a real moment to explain what has happened or the nature of their relationship. As for the sex in the film, I know folks believe they saw these two engaging in intercourse, but we didn't see any such thing. To be sure, there is plenty of nudity, some foreplay, an HJ, and the off camera use of an item for pleasuring, however, any act of lovemaking between the characters is not shown; no grinding, thrusting, groaning, or sweating with our protagonists wrapped around each other. There is little, if any, romance here. Given that avoidance of honest passion, the minimal dialogue, and fuzzy narrative, this movie's subject matter is rendered more tepid than bold or shocking; indeed, it would be difficult to show mother/son incest much safer than it's depiction here. Ultimately, the movie just aimlessly rolls around the deck until the end credits appear.