Bolshoi Babylon

Making for fascinating comparison with Frederick Wiseman's La Danse (2009) and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010), this starts out as an investigation into the January 2013 acid attack that left Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin with third-degree burns and blind in one eye. In examining the case, British documentary maker Nick Read reveals how one of Russia's most revered institutions is rotten to the core and an already tense atmosphere is scarcely eased by the appointment of the meddlesome Filin's loathed rival, Vladimir Urin, as his successor. But, with even the most disgruntled minion being reluctant to reveal too much on camera, Read and co-director Mark Franchetti are left to imply more than they can state about the corruption and cronyism that threaten to compromise the artistic integrity of the company founded in 1776. Tellingly, little actual dancing is shown as Read snoops backstage, only scratching the surface of the scandal, though with plenty of simmering intrigue and splendid archive material.