Swan Song is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Chelsea McMullan.[1]
| Swan Song | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Release poster | |
| Directed by | Chelsea McMullan |
| Written by | Chelsea McMullan Sean O'Neill |
| Produced by | Sean O'Neill |
| Starring | Karen Kain Jurgita Dronina Shaelynn Estrada |
| Cinematography | Tess Girard Shady Hanna |
| Edited by | Brendan Mills |
| Music by | Katie Stelmanis |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Blue Ice Docs CBC Television |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Summary
editThe film profiles National Ballet of Canada artistic director and former dancer Karen Kain as she directs a production of Swan Lake for the company as her final project before retiring.[2]
Cast
edit- Jurgita Dronina
- Shaelynn Estrada
- Karen Kain
Production
editActress Neve Campbell is an executive producer.[3]
Release
editThe film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival,[4] and screened at the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival,[5] the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival,[6] the 2023 BFI London Film Festival[7] and the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival.[8]
An expanded four-part television version aired in November 2023 on CBC Television and CBC Gem.[9]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 21 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10.[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]
Lisa Kennedy of Variety wrote, "Director Chelsea McMullan, along with co-writer and producer Sean O'Neill, have crafted a work that echoes the artform's grace and rigor, physical demands and details. As one of the film's achingly sympathetic subjects Shaelynn Estrada confesses, it also explores the deep love and sometimes equally deep antipathy dancers can have for their chosen profession."[12]
Awards
editAt Cinéfest, the film was runner-up for the Audience Choice award for Best Documentary Film.[13]
At Calgary, the film won the award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary.[6]
The film was the winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary Award at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2023.[14]
The film was the winner of the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for Best Sound Design in a Documentary,[15] and the 2024 DGC Allan King Award for Best Documentary Film.[16]
References
edit- ^ Pat Mullen, "Swan Song, Nickelback, Paul Simon Lead First TIFF Doc Titles". Point of View, July 24, 2023.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Neve Campbell Boards TIFF-Bound Doc Swan Song as Executive Producer". Point of View, July 25, 2023.
- ^ Manori Ravindran, "Neve Campbell Boards TIFF-Bound Ballet Documentary ‘Swan Song’ as Executive Producer". Variety, July 25, 2023.
- ^ Leonard Pearce, "TIFF 2023 Adds Documentaries by Frederick Wiseman, Errol Morris, Raoul Peck, Roger Ross Williams & More". The Film Stage, July 26, 2023.
- ^ Heidi Ulrichsen, "Cinéfest 2023 features strong Canadian content". Sudbury.com, August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Aryn Toombs, "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary, September 25, 2023.
- ^ Anna Mayers, "BFI LFF 2023: Swan Song – Film Review". CLOSE-UP CULTURE
- ^ Aleesha Harris, "'Star-studded' films among highlights of upcoming Vancouver International Film Festival". Vancouver Sun, August 10, 2023.
- ^ Greg David, "CBC sets fall 2023 streaming and broadcast premiere dates for new and returning original series on CBC Gem and CBC Television". TV, eh?, August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Swan Song". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Swan Song". Metacritic. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Kennedy, Lisa (July 25, 2024). "'Swan Song' Review: Ballet Doc Raises Karen Kain, Her Dancers and the Bar on Performance Arts Films". Variety. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com, September 28, 2023.
- ^ Mullen, Pat (March 5, 2024). "Swan Song Wins Rogers Best Canadian Documentary from Toronto Film Critics". Point of View.
- ^ Connie Thiessen, "Canadian Screen Awards winners: Cinematic Arts". Broadcast Dialogue, May 30, 2024.
- ^ Alex Nino Gheciu, "‘Queen of My Dreams,’ ‘We Forgot to Break Up’ tie for top Directors Guild award". Brandon Sun, October 28, 2024.