The Dancer 1

Following a premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the first trailer has been released for Stéphanie Di Giusto‘s The Dancer (La Danseuse), half in English, half in French. However, it features some striking imagery to combat any loss of comprehension in its latter half for U.S. viewers not fluent in French. The film follows dancer Loïe Fuller (Soko) and her complex relationship with her protègè and rival (Gaspard Ulliel). Fuller was an inspiration for the Lumière Brothers, among others, and was the toast of the Folies Bergères at the turn of the 20th century.

We said in our review: “The cast is solid all-around. In the lead role, Soko has both the willful masculinity and a feminine vulnerability down. Playing Louis, Ulliel is his usual charismatic self, exuding an effortless, pansexual allure that enriches a rather underwritten character infinitely. And though she only appears later in the film, Depp positively dazzles as Isadora. With her elfin litheness and an almost contemptuous self-assuredness, she owns the screen during every appearance. Ultimately, The Dancer doesn’t venture from patterns of traditional biopics far enough to be called inspired, but it delivers a spirited, fully committed portrayal that allows you to observe a quintessential artist from the outside in.”

See the full trailer below, along with a poster, for the film also starring Lily-Rose Melody Depp and Mélanie Thierry.

Loïe Fuller was the toast of the Folies Bergères at the turn of the 20th century and an inspiration for Toulouse-Lautrec and the Lumière Brothers. The film revolves around her complicated relationship with protégé and rival Isadora Duncan.

The Dancer poster

The Dancer hits theaters in France on September 28th, but is still currently awaiting U.S. distribution.

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