A Ballerina's Tale Review
By David Kempler
Pretty Ballerina
At the Tribeca Film Festival, back in April, Nelson George's documentary about Misty Copeland made its New York debut. Copeland is the first African-American soloist for the renowned American Ballet Theater in over 20 years.
"A Ballerina's Tale" plays as a love letter from George to Copeland. He traces her career beginning with her as a young girl when she was dancing with a local ballet company in California. In the videos from then, it's apparent that she is a genuine talent and a very pretty young lady.
Her life takes her to a stunning career as a major American ballerina. George shows her performing at the Metropolitan Opera House and shows much of what goes on behind the scenes. Unfortunately, George seems uninterested in the audience getting to know much about what makes her tick. He glosses over the inner part of Copeland, making it play more like a light view one might see on a half-hour television show rather than in a full-length film release.
The only tension surrounds an injury that fells Copeland. That is a mere speed bump, even though it takes up a large part of the film. It's a fairly serious injury that could derail her career, yet for whatever reason, George doesn't make us feel all that much concern. It's always full steam ahead and we know that Copeland will overcome any hurdles put in her path.
"A Ballerina's Tale" is pleasant to look at, much like Copeland, but it is without much depth. It's like looking at a pretty brochure of a place that you probably would not want to visit. If you want to look at something pretty, go ahead and see it, but don't expect much else.
