Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan (2016) User Reviews

An insightful documentary of the retirement of a a great ballerina

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 9 March 2018]

Wendy Whealan has been a professional ballerina longer than most. She stayed for 3 decades with New York City ballet. But at this time the pressure put on her body starts showing as she gets a serious hip injury.

In this documentary we watch her make the decision about retirement, see her last time on stage with New York City Ballet and also plan the future to come after it.

It is very well done that shows us a lot of insight into her career as well as it does show us all the emotions such as insecurities and finding herself. And we see that this is not the end. The era with NYC Ballet may be over but there is still a bright future ahead.

"When they throw confetti, you know it's over..."

[Lilcount · 8/10 · 20 June 2017]

By late 2013, Wendy Whelan had spent more than two decades as prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet. Now, after forty years as a dancer, she was suddenly confronted with the possible end of her career. She was facing surgery for a torn labrum in her right hip. Her boss, Peter Martins, was gently dropping hints that she should retire. Her own doubts led her to consider fleeing ballet and taking up modern dance.

"Restless Creature" is a documentary shot during this upheaval in Whelan's life. It's a look inside the world of dance, and a peek into the life of one of the art's greatest exponents. It's also a story of grace, determination, and courage.

Recommended.

Inside Look at the ballet world

[corabelch · 8/10 · 22 October 2019]

In all its beauty and all its grueling pain, this is an inside look at the ballet world and veteran dancer Wendy Whelan, who managed to stay a professional ballerina an entire decade longer than most dancers. And that is what makes this documentary more interesting than your usual ballet fare, in that you're following a dancer who is atypical in the world. An anomaly. And you'll become her biggest fan in the process!