To hell and back

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2011)

Hard to discuss the subject of the movie without giving it away. I suggest anyone wanting to see a powerful, tenseful movie to watch this, without reading any reviews. However, it is one of those films that remains strong even when you know what its subject is.
Ironically enough, it is about a great performance and it is expressed cinematographically via a great performance, that of Natalie Portman. I can't imagine how it was for her to actually play the role, but it must have been a little terrifying. The transition from ballet role to real life role and back again is shattering the actual person inside, the one that only wants to feel perfection and become complete through art.
Bottom line: it is a frighteningly beautiful film, one that expresses the inner hell of a person that everyone around puts pressure on. It might be too hard to witness, but it is a great movie.