I'm in shock over the low rating "White Nights" (1985) has on IMDb. I don't know why, unless some people hear the word ballet and go running.
Taylor Hackford directed this excellent film, which stars Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Isabella Rossellini, Geraldine Page, and Jerzy Skolimowski. It was filmed in Finland, England, Portugal, Scotland, with exterior Russian footage. Hackford wanted to get the specific lighting of the "white nights," the midnight sun, and found the closest to be Finland.
The story concerns a brilliant dancer, Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Baryshnikov) who boards a plane with his manager (Page) bound for Japan. During the flight, a technical problem develops and the pilot announces the plane has to land in Siberia. Nikolai, a defector, rips up his passport in an attempt to hide his identity, but it's no use.
He is sent to a Russian hospital to recover from a head wound, and needless to say, they have no intention of letting him go. In fact, they want him to dance at the Kirov again.
Nikolai is ultimately housed with an American performer, Raymond (Gregory Hines) and his Russian wife (Rossellini). Raymond, a Vietnam deserter, left the U.S. for Russia where he thought people were treated more equally (yeah, badly). The relationship between the two men is antagonistic at first but a friendship develops as they plot to escape from the oppressive society.
The star of the film, of course, is the incredible dancing, choreographed by Roland Petit, Twyla Tharp, Baryshnikov, and Hines - modern, ballet, and tap, the highlight being Raymond's and Nikolai's dual dance. In the beginning, Hines does a scene from Porgy and Bess and sings and dances to "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" - terrific.
Add to this a fantastic soundtrack that includes "Separate Lives" and "Say You, Say Me," and the stunning Helen Mirren - I don't know what else anyone would want. Suspenseful, thrilling, and well acted, White Nights is a must-see, a political story about friendship and freedom.
Taylor Hackford directed this excellent film, which stars Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Isabella Rossellini, Geraldine Page, and Jerzy Skolimowski. It was filmed in Finland, England, Portugal, Scotland, with exterior Russian footage. Hackford wanted to get the specific lighting of the "white nights," the midnight sun, and found the closest to be Finland.
The story concerns a brilliant dancer, Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Baryshnikov) who boards a plane with his manager (Page) bound for Japan. During the flight, a technical problem develops and the pilot announces the plane has to land in Siberia. Nikolai, a defector, rips up his passport in an attempt to hide his identity, but it's no use.
He is sent to a Russian hospital to recover from a head wound, and needless to say, they have no intention of letting him go. In fact, they want him to dance at the Kirov again.
Nikolai is ultimately housed with an American performer, Raymond (Gregory Hines) and his Russian wife (Rossellini). Raymond, a Vietnam deserter, left the U.S. for Russia where he thought people were treated more equally (yeah, badly). The relationship between the two men is antagonistic at first but a friendship develops as they plot to escape from the oppressive society.
The star of the film, of course, is the incredible dancing, choreographed by Roland Petit, Twyla Tharp, Baryshnikov, and Hines - modern, ballet, and tap, the highlight being Raymond's and Nikolai's dual dance. In the beginning, Hines does a scene from Porgy and Bess and sings and dances to "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" - terrific.
Add to this a fantastic soundtrack that includes "Separate Lives" and "Say You, Say Me," and the stunning Helen Mirren - I don't know what else anyone would want. Suspenseful, thrilling, and well acted, White Nights is a must-see, a political story about friendship and freedom.