This is not an easy movie

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2011)

Simply put, this is not an easy movie to watch. Ballerinas, a status that is acquired through painstaking practices and determination, is always mysterious. This movie uncovered the shadow behind their glorious careers on stage. While it is fiction, it describes the internal and external pressures, the rise and fall of careers, the competition among peers, the stereotypes for ballerinas, and most of all, the sheer will behind a perfect performance. Through out this movie, Natalie Portman's restrained character faces every type of blood, sweat, and tears to perfect herself. The movie's intensity, realism, and Natale Portman's superb acting make this a difficult yet rewarding watch.