It's a documentary film that embodies the story of the famous ballerina dancer Misty Copeland. It seems that this girl has become the first African American woman to have a major dancer in the legendary American ballet theater, which sparked great controversy there.
Stay for the end credits, which include a tribute to the (sadly few) black ballerinas who came before Copeland; you suspect, watching footage of the little girls who eagerly wait after performances, that many more will follow in her graceful footsteps.
As an examination of how idealized conceptions of the ballerina have fed racial homogeneity in the industry, A Ballerina's Tale sticks with stuff we already know.
George approaches his subject with a great deal of respect, which sometimes makes the film seem a little cautious. But the more time he spends with Copeland, the more I could appreciate the choice.
Los Angeles Times
October 23, 2015
Ultimately fails to deliver the sort of inspirational uplift that should have been a given.
...sometimes this film feels like the work of a publicist rather than a documentarian, but it's still worth seeing, particularly if you are interested in ballet.
A Ballerina's Tale is far from an exhaustive or even complete documentary, but George... captures the behind-the-scenes grit required of any great artist while also making it clear why this artist is more important than most.
