THE BOLSHOI, RED SPARROW’S BACKSTORY, IS OFTEN A TRUE STORY OF BROKEN DREAMS

“THE BOLSHOI // TRICOAST ENTERTAINMENT”
Investigating the behind-the-scenes hard work, passion, and long hours to learn the choreographed six-minute dance in ‘RED SPARROW’ mirrors ‘THE BOLSHOI’, and proves the obsessive, national dedication to ballet, and how the greatest loss in life can be watching your dreams slip away.

Los Angeles, CA – March 14, 2018 – Both ‘RED SPARROW’ and TriCoast Entertainment’s release, ‘THE BOLSHOI’, have Mother Russia asking the same question… How far would you go to keep your family and your dreams alive?

Francis Lawrence’s (‘The Hunger Games’) newly released espionage thriller, ‘RED SPARROW’, stars Jennifer Lawrence as ‘Domnikia Egorova’, a crown jewel prima ballerina at Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet company. ‘RED SPARROW’ follows Dominika, whose recently on-stage fractured leg keeps her from pursuing every ballerina’s dream – to perform on the stage of Russia’s renowned Bolshoi Theatre. No longer able to be a professional dancer, her injury results in losing essential state-provided finances, such as her apartment and the medication for her ill mother.


Photo: ‘RED SPARROW’.

‘RED SPARROW’ spends a majority of its screen time focused on keeping her mother alive – and the only way to do so is accepting her Uncle Vanya’s (Matthias Schoenaerts) offer to become a “sparrow”, whose body serves the Russian government. As Domnikia is tortured, manipulated, and brutalized – some have forgotten and overlooked the beginning ballet scene, the dedication and hard work to perform so gracefully, as well as the original traumatic incident of losing her leg, and losing her dream.

Though ballet is only present within the first 10 minutes of ‘RED SPARROW’ as Domnikia performs for six-minutes to Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird”, choreographed by Justin Peck and Sergei Polunin, with assistance from Kurt Froman, former New York City Ballet dancer, and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, Isabella Boylston, as Lawrence’s dance double.


Photo: from Pointe Magazine.

Because Lawrence had never taken a ballet class, Froman explained, “In my first rehearsal with Jen [Lawrence] I had to explain alignment. I told her that for the whole movie, whether she was dancing or not, dancers have a certain way of holding their shoulders back and their ribs closed and kind of a freedom of movement,” reported Chava Lansky from Pointe Magazine.

Interview Magazine’s Jane Gayduk quoted Boylston, “Dancers are so disciplined and tough that they can be successful in whatever endeavor they choose following their ballet careers”, which was proved in Dominika’s ability to transform from graceful, dedicated dancer at the Bolshoi Theatre to sleek and sly Russian spy.

From learning ballet’s precise techniques, nine-hour practice days, and several costume changes, filming the six-minute performance during the opening dance scene of ‘RED SPARROW’ at the Bolshoi Theatre exemplified just what it takes to fulfill any ballerina’s lifelong dream, and how quickly it can be stripped away.


Photo: ‘RED SPARROW’.

From Valery Todorovsky Production Company and Marmot Film Studio with direction by Valery Todorovsky (‘Hipsters’, ‘Ottepel’, TV series ‘The Thaw’), ‘THE BOLSHOI’ is a coming-of-age Russian ballet new to the U.S. from TriCoast Entertainment exclusively, starring real dancers and was filmed on location at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Depicting the passion, struggle, and choice of ballet as a number one priority is reflected in ‘THE BOLSHOI’ from lead, Yulia Olshanskaya (Polish National Ballet coryphée, Margarita Simonova), as her hard work and drive pushes her to fulfill her lifelong dream, to perform on the competitive stage of Russia’s renowned Bolshoi Theatre.

In order for Yulia to achieve her dream of dancing ballet on the Bolshoi Theatre’s stage, she faces the daily struggles many dancers face – making complex choices, attempting to balance the life of a dedicated ballerina with her wanted-life of a “normal”, everyday girl – one who’s able to have a life full of love.


Photo: ‘THE BOLSHOI’.

Similar to Lawrence’s character of Dominika, both lead ballerinas are faced with the halt of their profession and the years of hard work. With Dominika’s leg disallowing her to perform, her dreams are shattered as she is left with one option, to become a “sparrow”.

But for Yulia – will she choose to follow through with her dream – a life completely dedicated to ballet? Or one of real-life without her passion yet what she holds most dear – her family, friendships, and a first love?


Photo:
Margarita Simonova in ‘THE BOLSHOI’ from Dance Network TV.

Simonova embarked on ‘THE BOLSHOI’ journey for its eight months of filming and 15-hour day shoots at the theatre but with the assistance of her real-life ballerina background, while Lawrence had to perform like a professional, or at least convincing, ballerina in only four months, which realistically takes a lifetime. 


Photo: ‘THE BOLSHOI’.

Both films go beyond to capture Russia and it’s Bolshoi Theatre in its beautiful originality. In ‘RED SPARROW’, “the swift pirouettes and sky-high extensions in the opening scenes of the film actually look like Bolshoi caliber technique, it’s thanks to American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Isabella Boylston, Lawrence’s dance double,” wrote Gayduk  (Interview Magazine). In ‘THE BOLSHOI’, Simonova told Dance Network TV’s Kristyn Burtt in an exclusive interview that ‘THE BOLSHOI’ movie “wasn’t just created by the script, but also by our dance tips,” as Todorovsky often asked advice from the film’s real-life Russian ballerinas. 


Photo: from Dance Network TV.

And for Simonova first-time acting job, dancing on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre truly was a dream come true. She remarked, “It doesn’t matter that it was dancing in the movie, it was an incredible feeling to step on that stage,” cited Burtt.

To imagine the immense amount of work, effort, and motivation Simonova obtained to become a part of the prestigious Polish National Ballet coryphée in real life raises curiosities, as maybe Lawrence’s character in ‘RED SPARROW’ biggest tragedy wasn’t only her journey to become a “sparrow”, but maybe, the loss of her real love and life dream – ballet. 

With the screenplay written by Anastasia Palchikova on the motives of the adapted synopsis by Ilya Tilkin and Valery Todorovsky, ‘THE BOLSHOI’ stars real-life dancers, including Ekaterinberg Ballet principal, Andrei Sorokin, and former Paris Opéra Ballet étoile, Nicholas LeRiche. In addition stars Anna Isaeva (Swan Lake, Arabian Nights), Alisa Freyndlikh, Aleksandr Domogarov (musical: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), and Valentina Telishkina. Froman’s résumé entails training Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis for ‘BLACK SWAN’ as well as Rooney Mara for ‘SONG TO SONG’.

Watch ‘THE BOLSHOI’ now: http://bit.ly/2GEwZo0. ‘THE BOLSHOI’ is available on VOD platforms (iTunes, Vimeo On Demand, Fandango, Vudu, FlixFling, Hoopla, In Demand, GooglePlay, DISH, Sony Playstation, Direct TV, and Microsoft Xbox).

Watch ‘THE BOLSHOI’ trailer here: https://vimeo.com/233908339.

THE BOLSHOI (2017, 132 min.) Directed by Valery Todorovsky. Editor: Aleksey Bobrov. Cinematography: Sergey Mikhalchuk. Original Music: Anna Drubich and Pavel Karmanov. US, English. Valery Todorovsky Production Company and Marmot Film Studio, TriCoast Entertainment.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Valery Todorovsky Production Company and Marmot Film Studio

About TriCoast Entertainment: 

A new home for story-driven American films, TriCoast Entertainment is a full service media company that creates, produces, manages and distributes unique and unusual entertainment. Bringing together filmmakers, distributors, financiers, and technologists, TriCoast Entertainment embraces change by redefining the production and distribution model for indie filmmakers, providing them with low cost tools, financing, and worldwide theatrical and digital distribution, along with market feedback and storytelling opportunities.

Founded by CEOs: Strathford Hamilton and Marcy Levitas Hamilton

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