En Corps (Rise) - Friday 31st January 2025

I was chatting to a French dancer about dance films, and she recommended this film. It started off really well, and there was a definite sense of empathy with the protagonist. However, once the story moved to a different locale, it lost all momentum.

There was no drama in the character’s journey, no unexpected twists or falls, it was just a smooth and steady rise (as the title suggests), which may be an accurate portrayal of the life of a dancer, but as a viewer, it can be pretty boring.

Similarly, the dedication to authenticity (in depicting the life of a dancer) may mean that the film is only fully enjoyed by those in the dance world.

Personally, I love dance, but as the protagonist’s journey was so uneventful, and there was no ‘climax’ to speak of, I didn’t enjoy the second half of the film as much as the first.

The actors were all good, and the star of the film, Marion Barbeau, absolutely keeps you engaged; I look forward to seeing her in other films.