Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

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Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

2017,

1h 30m,

Documentary/

Music

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Watchlist

100%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Wendy Whelan joined the New York City Ballet in 1984 as an apprentice and became its principal dancer in 1991. She is a highly respected and beloved figure in the dance world. Whelan is followed as she confronts the limitations that time has placed on her body and learns to adapt to a new role in the dance community.

Laura Molzahn

Chicago Reader

Jul 27, 2017

The film offers a trove of insights into the world of dance, including many glimpses of famed choreographers and fellow performers, and reveals a performer as remarkable for her warmth and candor as for her singular artistry.

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Jul 25, 2017

3.5/4

"Restless Creature" isn't a mere celebration of a great artist; it's a moving portrait of what happens when that artist confronts the possibility of not being able to make that art any more.

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

Jun 16, 2017

B+

Seeing Whelan move with grace and elegance across the stage is as much storytelling as you need, but this all access documentary paints a full portrait and explains her importance in the field.

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Andrea Thompson

Cultured Vultures

Jan 30, 2019

9/10

It is impossible not to root for this woman as she struggles to heal her body, go out on a high note, and discuss all the intimacies of her profession.

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Michael Wade Simpson

culturevulture.net

Dec 19, 2017

It is a powerful and moving documentary about one artist choosing to rise above the seemingly insurmountable obstacles placed upon her by age, injury, and ballet itself.

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

Aug 29, 2017

The documentary Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan speaks not only to fans of ballet and elite athletes, but also to everyone captivated by determination, self-awareness, and a commitment to pursuing what they love in life, despite serious setbacks.

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Finn M

Sep 28, 2018

"The beauty of your particular approach is that you-- you actually weren't strategizing all of those things. You weren't living your life like a chess board. You were just dancing." Absolutely beautiful, aching, yet positively restless.

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Jul 6, 2018

Very honest and fascinating portray of an exceptionally restless ballerina. This documentary is close second to "First Position" and as good as "Dancer"

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Theodore R

Nov 11, 2017

Wendy has a gentle soul and is obviously very humble and respectful of herself and those around her as shown in her interaction with others. At a time I when Hollywood is being exposed for its abuse of power, she's exactly the opposite. A shining example of making to the top and acting like you're just one of the others. Loved her and this movie about her.

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Anakin S

Nov 2, 2017

Even if you have no interest in ballet, the portrayal of Wendy here is that of a genuine and relatable observance of how our ambitions can be faded with time. Having known nothing of her before the documentary, it was a brief but interesting glimpse in the physically staggering world of dancing at this level.

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Albus L

Jul 30, 2017

Really good documentary about the former lead dancer at the New York City Ballet. 46 years old, realizing her 30 year career is almost over, and how she deals with it, as well as a major injury that speeds up the process.

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Draco R

Jun 15, 2017

Beautiful movie. Well done documentary.

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Linda Saffire

Director

Adam Schlesinger

Director

Wendy Whelan

Actor

Peter Martins

Self

David Prottas

Self

Diana DiMenna

Producer

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Synopsis

Wendy Whelan joined the New York City Ballet in 1984 as an apprentice and became its principal dancer in 1991. She is a highly respected and beloved figure in the dance world. Whelan is followed as she confronts the limitations that time has placed on her body and learns to adapt to a new role in the dance community.

Director: Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
Producer: Diana DiMenna, Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Got The Shot Productions, WW Dance
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $147.8K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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