THE WHITE CROW [2018 / 2019] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] A Compelling Account Of A Controversial, Charismatic Genius!
The incredible true story of legendary dancer Rudolf Nureyev [Oleg Ivenko] is brought vividly to life by Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes and BAFTA winning screenwriter David Hare. From Rudolf Nureyev’s poverty-stricken childhood in the Soviet city of Ufa, to his blossoming as a student dancer in Leningrad, to his nail-biting escape from the KGB and defection to the West at the height of the Cold War, the ‘THE WHITE CROW’ is a gripping, revelatory look at a unique artist who transformed the world of ballet forever.
WHITE CROW [Belaya Vorona) The idiom is used to describe a person who is unusual, extraordinary, not like others, and outsider or nonconformist.
CRITICS REVIEWS
“SUPERBLY DIRECTED BY RALPH FINNES” – BAZ BAMIGBOYE • DAILY MAIL
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“GUARANTEED TO LEAVE YOU INSPIRED” – ELLE
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“TERRIFICALLY TENSE” – WENDY IDE • SCREEN DAILY
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival: Win: Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution for Ralph Fiennes. Nominated: Tokyo Grand Prix for Best Film for Ralph Fiennes.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘THE WHITE CROW’ is inspired by the book “Rudolf Nureyev: The Life by Julie Kavanagh.” The title is a reference to his childhood nickname of white crow (with a somewhat similar meaning to “black sheep” in English), because he was unusual. Principal photography was completed in October 2017. ‘THE WHITE CROW’ premiered at the 2018 Telluride Film Festival and the 2018 BFI London Film Festival. ‘THE WHITE CROW’ also screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Cinemania (Bulgaria) and Febiofest (Czech Republic). Ralph Fiennes received the Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at the Tokyo International Film Festival, with the film receiving a Tokyo Grand Prix nomination.
Cast: Oleg Ivenko, Ralph Fiennes, Louis Hofmann, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sergei Polunin, Olivier Rabourdin, Raphaël Personnaz, Chulpan Khamatova, Zach Avery, Mar Sodupe, Calypso Valois, Aleksey Morozov, Nebojsa Dugalic, Igor Filipovic, Yves Heck, Jovo Maksic, Anastasiya Meskova, Anna Urban, Angelina Debor, Dmitriy Karanevskiy, Charlie Wright, Jean-Baptiste Demarigny, Arnaud Humbert, Radoslav 'Rale' Milenkovic, Yann Bean, Margaryta Cheremukhina, Pavle Cemerikic, Nadezhda Markina, Andrey Urgant, Vitaliy Kovalenko, Jonathan Zaccaï, Frano Lasic, Ravshana Kurkova, Vladimir Nikitin, Kseniya Ryabinkina, Yelena Trepetova, Milutin Milosevic, Konstantin Kostjukov, Greg De Cuir, Tamara Krcunovic, James Owen, Paul Leonard Murray, Stanislava Jeftic, Juliette Armanet, Kira Sinelshikova, Stephane Moissaing, Sébastien Siroux, Anna Stanic, Emmanuelle Bougerol and Zeljko Vukovic
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Producers: Andjelija Vlaisavljevic, Andrew Levitas, Andrew Semans, Anne Sheehan, Anupam Gupta, Anya Recordati, Beth Pattinson, Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Charles de Rosen, Diego Zanco, François Ivernel, Gabrielle Tana, Joe Oppenheimer, Laura Coates, Liam Neeson, Lisa Wolofsky, Marie-Gabrielle Stewart, Mark Cooper, Meg Clark, Peter Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Robert Jones, Rose Garnett, Sam Gordon, Stephanie Coleman, Umida Umarbekova and Wayne Marc Godfrey
Screenplay: David Hare (screenplay) and Julie Kavanagh (The film was inspired by her book: "Rudolf Nureyev: The Life")
Composer: Ilan Eshkeri
Make-up and Hair Designer Department: Corinne Bossu [Key Make-up Artist: France], Lena Dodocic [Make-up coordinator] (uncredited), Martina Subic-Dodocic [Make-up supervisor], Miljana Pakic [Additional Make-up Artist], Roxane Bruneton [Make-up Artist: Paris], Tijana Saletovic [Make-up Artist],Claudia Stolze [Wig maker for Ralph Fiennes], Frédérique Arguello [Hair stylist], Jon Henry Gordon [Hair stylist], Ljiljana Zorovic [Crowd hair stylist / Crowd Make-up Artist], Lizzi Lawson [Head of Hair Department / Head of Make-up Department], Maja Ilic [Hairdresser dailes], Marina Stojanovic [Hirdresser]
Costume Designer: Madeline Fontaine, A.F.C.C.A.
Cinematography: Mike Eley, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Colour and Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 and 2.39:1 (some scenes letterbox)
Audio: English/Russian: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English/Russian: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Audio Description Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 127 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: BBC Films / HanWay Films / Metalwork Pictures / Lonely Dragon / STUDIOCANAL
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: with the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ [2018] Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes and BAFTA winning screenwriter David Hare bring the incredible true story of the legendary Rudolf Nureyev, one of the greatest and most famous ballet dancers of the 20th century, vividly brought to life in the amazing emotional film ‘THE WHITE CROW.’
Starring dancer and actor Oleg Ivenko, who is portrayed as the young Rudolf Nureyev, and the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ also portrays Rudolph Nureyev’s early life from his childhood in Russia to a nail-biting escape from the KGB and his defection, in 1961 in Paris at the height of the Cold War.
‘THE WHITE CROW’ gives Ralph Fiennes the chance once again to turn his hand to direction with the film ‘THE WHITE CROW,’ which is a dramatization of Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s defection to the West. Widely regarded as the greatest male ballet dancer of his generation, and of course famously sees Rudolf Nureyev’s defection in 1961 at the height of Cold War tensions famously created an international media storm at the time and was definitely destined for a film adaptation, and Ralph Fiennes brings the intimate story of Rudolf Nureyev to life via the silver screen, but some critics they gave the film a pretty mixed reaction towards the portrayal of the life and times of Rudolf Nureyev.
Opening ominously at the end of the story and dovetailing back on itself in a bid to draw the audience in and create some mystery. ‘THE WHITE CROW’ follows Rudolf Nureyev from his early childhood, which is very cold, uninviting and his poverty-stricken lifestyle, to his early days as a member of the Mariinsky Ballet. All of this is intercut with Rudolf Nureyev and the Mariinsky Ballet’s and his ill-fated performances in Paris, which is where much of the core of the drama is to be found and centered.
Director Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Oleg Ivenko accomplish plenty early on in the film, displaying Rudolf Nureyev’s prowess and skill on the stage with flair and style, leaving little doubt in the audience’s mind of Rudolf Nureyev the dancer’s success. The choreography is absolutely stunning, even to those who couldn’t care less for the ballet art form. However, despite these kinetic and graceful interludes, the film can sometimes be incredibly slow and meandering for the most part, and with the flashbacks to Rudolf Nureyev’s life pre-Paris is slightly long and talky, whilst countless scenes of Rudolf Nureyev simply wandering the streets of the French capital and sightseeing feel like nothing more than padding.
At first impression, you might think ‘THE WHITE CROW’ was the name of an exotic bird in a nature film. But it was actually the name given to one of the world’s premier ballet dancers, Rudolf Nureyev. To the Russians, overwhelmed by his natural skill, the term “white crow” identified someone whom we in the West might call “a loner” an extraordinary person, not like others, who lives by his own rules.
Rudolf Nureyev was just that sort of person. Born in 1938 on a train traveling to Siberia, he was, as an adored young boy, taken by his mother to a ballet performance. That experience changed his life. Rudolf Nureyev had a passion for dance, which became his obsession, and is documented beautifully in the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ in which director Ralph Fiennes chronicles the life and times of this often bad- tempered genius.
Based on the book “Nureyev: The Life” by Julie Kavanagh, it was adapted for the screen by the much-admired playwright David Hare. And it stars Oleg Ivanko, a formidable dancer who even looks like the young Rudolf Nureyev. Among the ten “stars” in the film, however, it is probable that only Ralph Fiennes will be identifiable to an American audience.
Soaked in Cold War paranoia, with the presence of the KGB ever looming over proceedings, there is some sadness to be had in Rudolf Nureyev’s hubris though. Depicted in the final half an hour of the film, where the tension ratchets up considerably as Rudolf Nureyev’s overconfidence and arrogance gives way to unbridled panic and fear, in thinking he is going to be deported back to Russia. The ensuring conflict over his deportation and defection is dynamite drama at its best which lends the film some much needed momentum, with Ralph Fiennes using his skill as a storyteller to create a claustrophobic and inescapable aesthetic throughout the final act.
It’s the finale part of the film that ultimately saves ‘THE WHITE CROW’ from mediocrity. Regardless though, how slow, and heavily-padded drama lacks a likeable lead character with which to empathise with, thus rendering much of the film hollow and insubstantial. There are flashes of excellent though, with the graceful dance scenes lending the film an elegancy completely in keeping with its subject’s mastery of the dance.
When Rudolf Nureyev outwitted his KGB minders at Le Bourget airport, which was at the time the then main airport for Paris, and Rudolf Nureyev became famous overnight. A propaganda coup had fallen into the lap of the West in its Cold War with the Soviet Union. Rudolf Nureyev became that rare thing – a male ballet dancer whose name was known worldwide. Rudolf Nureyev spent the next 30 years delighting in his celebrity status around the world to an audience that worshiped the ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev.
Moving back and forth through time, this evocative film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ explores Rudolf Nureyev’s origins (including his birth on a Trans-Siberian train, his rebellious youth and the first stirrings of his sexuality) while leading towards a stunning finale. Beautifully shot on 16mm, Ralph Fiennes brings period texture and emotional depth to this study of a wildly talented man whose dangerous escape to the west reverberated through the worlds of ballet and international relations.
One thing that really impressed me was with director/actor Ralph Fiennes was his fluency in Russian, but of course it would be very interesting to know how actual Russians would judge Ralph Fiennes on his ability to speak Russian. On top of all that, critics have been slightly negative about the actor/dancer Oleg Ivenko in his performance as Rudolf Nureyev, well I think they were being very harsh and his personally thought his performance as an actor was very good as Rudolf Nureyev.
‘THE WHITE CROW’ is impeccably made. There’s an intricacy and dedication to detail from director Ralph Fiennes which is very impressive and gives the film a touch of tough grandeur. Also, it is a 12-certificate, but has a bit of fruity language, there are some moments of slight sexual tension, but perhaps not enough to warrant more than the 12-certificate it gets. In times gone by, this would’ve been a straight-forward 15-certificate, but then while a 12-certificate means basically anyone can watch it, the film is unlikely to get a young audience, but maybe more so towards young children who attend ballet schools and want to inspire to be like Rudolf Nureyev.
We are informed that Rudolf Nureyev returned to the USSR in 1987, to visit his dying mother. But sadly, Rudolf Nureyev died in Paris in 1973.
THE WHITE CROW MUSIC TRACK LIST
La Bayadère 3rd Shade Variation
(Composed by Ludwig Minkus)
(Arranged by Matthias Gohl)
[Performed by Ilan Eshkeri and The London Metropolitan Orchestra]
La Bayadère Solor Variation
(Composed by Ludwig Minkus)
(Arranged by Vladimir Podgoretsky)
[Performed by Ilan Eshkeri and The London Metropolitan Orchestra)
V Lunnom Siyani
(Composed by Evgeniy Dimitrievitch Yuriev)
[Arranged and performed by Ilya Atamanov]
Eugene Onegin
(Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
(Arranged by Stephen McLaughlin)
[Performed by Ilan Eshkeri and The London Metropolitan Orchestra]
Stone Flower (op. 118, Act 1, sc. 2, Danilo's Thoughts)
(Composed by Sergei Prokofiev)
[Performed by The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra]
BABY BUNS
(Composed by Jacques Morali)
(Written by Alain Bernardin and Cameron Watson)
[By permission of the Crazy Horse, Paris]
Laurencia Pas de Six (Act 2)
(Composed by Alexander Krein)
(Arranged by Stephen McLaughlin)
[Performed by The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra]
Swan Lake, op. 20, Prince Solo, Act 1, sc. 4 Pas de Trois – Andante sostenuto
(Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
(Arranged by Ilan Eshkeri)
[Performed by The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra]
Swan Lake, op. 20, Black Swan Coda Medley (Act 1, sc. 5, Pas de Deux, Coda, Allegro molto vivace and Act 4, sc. 29, Finale)
(Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
(Arranged by Stephen McLaughlin)
[Performed by The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra]
LA CHANSON de PRÉVERT
(Music by Serge Gainsbourg)
(Lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg)
[Performed by Juliette Armanet]
PLAISIR d’AMOUR
(Music by Johann Martini)
(Lyrics by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian)
[Performed by Juliette Armanet]
Bashkirian Folk Dance (Traditional)
(Arranged by Anna Bivol)
[Performed by Paul Stobart]
The Sleeping Beauty, no. 18, Entr'acte
(Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
(Arranged by Ilan Eshkeri)
[Performed by The London Metropolitan Orchestra]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – BBC Films, HanWay Films, Metalwork Pictures, Lonely Dragon and STUDIOCANAL presents us the amazing film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ with an awesome beautiful stunning 1080p image and is shown with a 1.85:1 and 2.29:1 aspect ratio. Detail levels are consistent as they have ever been, and there are wonderful super clear shots spread throughout the film. Black levels are great, which means this super film looks absolutely amazing, quite possibly the best the film has ever looked for the home video market. It may be safe to say if you haven't seen this Blu-ray, then you must, as you will get to view everything in the film that is amazing in ‘THE WHITE CROW’ that it has to offer! Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – BBC Films and STUDIOCANAL brings you the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ with the wonderful choice of 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. I was quite pleased with how the music was in the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ as you get to hear especially a good bonus of the ever present amazing and wonderful composed dramatic music, adding the tension throughout the film and especially the depth towards the scenes you get to view in the film, and really hitting the mark every time. Another bonus with THE WHITE CROW’ film release is that it sports superb audio separation and wonderful volume spikes, especially with the classical composed music featured in the film, and it also has a great audio range. This audio track has power, and is an overall winner and full marks for BBC Films and STUDIOCANAL for releasing this wonderful Blu-ray release.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Q&A With Cast & Crew Hosted by Edith Bowman [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [30:29] With this featurette, we get to see on the stage with people involved with the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ and they were Ralph Fiennes [Director / Aleksandr Ivanovich Pushkin], Gabrielle Tana [Producer], Oleg Ivenko [Rudolf Nureyev], Russian Interpreter and David Hare [Screenplay] who took part in the Q&A Hosted by Edith Bowman at the UK premiere of ‘THE WHITE CROW,’ where they discussed the inception and production of the film with questioner Edith Bowman. Ralph Fiennes also says how they wanted to find a dancer who could act, rather than an actor who could dance. We are also told how there are people in the film who actually knew Rudolf Nureyev and appear in small cameos, while they wanted mainly to film in Russia and France, they couldn’t get the funding to film in USSR, so some of the filming was done in Serbia.
Special Feature: Rudolf Nureyev: The Legend Behind ‘THE WHITE CROW’ [2018] [1080p] [1.85:1] [3:43] With this featurette, is an exclusive to BBC Films and STUDIOCANAL where we get an in-depth look at the legend that was the Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and also talking in-depth about the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ which includes clips from the film, behind-the-scenes footage and commentary from the cast and filmmakers, as well as archival footage of Rudolf Nureyev performing. Contributors include: Ralph Fiennes [Director / Aleksandr Ivanovich Pushkin], David Hare [Screenplay], Tamara Rojo [Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ballet / Artistic Director of the English National Ballet], Dame Monica Mason DBE [Former Ballet Dancer, Former Ballet Teacher of The Royal Ballet / Director of The Royal Ballet], Rosalind Bentley [Film Archivist / The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation], Sir John Tooley [Former General Director / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London] and Prue Skene [Vice President / Rudolf Nureyev Nureyev Foundation]
Special Feature: Ralph Fiennes and Oleg Ivenko In Conversation [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:17] With this featurette, we get an-depth talk between Ralph Fiennes and Oleg Ivenko about the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ where they both give their personal views about their input into the film and also explores how they brought their characters of Aleksandr Ivanovich Pushkin [Ralph Fiennes] and Rudolf Nureyev [Oleg Ivenko] to life and wanted to give the film as much authenticity as possible. We also get to view lots of clips from the film ‘THE WHITE CROW,’ but also behind-the-scene filming and also viewing Ralph Fiennes giving directions to the actors.
Special Feature: Cast and Crew Interviews [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [19:02] With this featurette, we have a range of interviews featuring David Hare [Screenwriter], Adèle Exarchopoulos [Clara Saint], Chulpan Khamatova [Xenia], Gabrielle Tana [Producer], Ilan Eshkeri [Composer] and Lizzi Lawson Zeiss [Make-up and Hair Department Head]. Here they also discuss their roles within the production and their experience of working with Ralph Fiennes and Oleg Ivenko. But mainly the people involved in the interview were asked lots of questions and this is what they were asked: How Did You Initially Get Involved with the project?; On the 3-Part Structure; On the character of Screenplay’s 3-Part Structure; On the Character of Rudolf Nureyev; On writing Nureyev’s Character; How was working with Ralph Fiennes?; On Ralph Fiennes Commitment to Authenticity?; On Ralph appearing in the film; How was working with Oleg Ivenko?; What do you think the audience will enjoy?; On Her Character; What attracted you to the project?; How was working with Ralph Fiennes?; How was working with Oleg Ivenko?; What attracted you to the project?; On Her Character; Why is this part in Nureyev’s life perfect for a good drama?; How was working with Ralph Fiennes?; How was working with Oleg Ivenko?; How was working with Ralph Fiennes?; On Ralph Fiennes commitment to authenticity; Why was David Hare the project screenwriter?; How was working with Oleg Ivenko?; On Oleg’s performance as Nureyev; What do you think the audience will enjoy?; What attracted you to the project?; On inspiration behind the music; How did you capture Nureyev’s emotions in the music?; How was working with Ralph Fiennes?; What attracted you to the project?; On creating to look of the film Lizzi Lawson Zeiss [Make-up and Hair Design]; On creating to looks for each time period; On matching Nureyev’s real life Ballet Make-up and How was working with Ralph Fiennes.
BONUS: Forthcoming Blu-ray Releases from STUDIOCANAL:
‘BEAUTIFUL BOY’ [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:39]
‘AMAZING GRACE’ [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:04]
‘DON’T LOOK NOW’ 4K Ultra-HD [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:02]
Finally, with the film ‘THE WHITE CROW,’ Ralph Fiennes film is, but for the most part they feel it is actually a David Hare’s film because of his in-depth screenplay, because David Hare’s script is what lifts it above the ordinary. This is not to say that ‘THE WHITE CROW is not quite Ralph Finnes best directed piece, but it is definitely directed with panache and style. Something his other films sort of had, but slightly lacked overarching quality. It appears Ralph Finnes has blended the two and enabled the work to merge together into a wonderful ambience. For the dance scenes it becomes very dynamic, especially with the Paris scenes, that feels timely and on the whole it is moulded by clever use of camera work by Mike Eley. To some critics gave the only downside upon Oleg Ivenko acting, as primarily and first most he is a ballet dancer in real life. Ralph Finnes tends to steals scenes as he would as Aleksandr Ivanovich Pushkin. As to David Hare’s screenplay, it is that good and in the process it fleshes out Rudolf Nureyev’s character and delves into Rudolf Nureyev’s thoughts at the time and certainly stirs up the emotions of Rudolf Nureyev’s emotional character. With the film ‘THE WHITE CROW’ it had been lovingly recreated the period scenes of Leningrad in the 1950’s and Paris in the 1960’s and mesmerising magical ballet sequences, ‘THE WHITE CROW’ is a visually rich, gripping and revelatory portrait of a complicated, fascinating and unique artist of the outstanding Rudolf Nureyev who became world famous phenomenon and transformed ballet performance forever. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
