The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty

Movie spotlight

The Sleeping Beauty

2011
Movie
183 min
English

Lauren Cuthbertson, Sergei Polunin and Claire Calvert star in this true gem from the classical ballet repertory, set to Tchaikovsky's glorious music.

Insights

IMDb5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes36%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users55%
Director: Catherine BreillatGenres: Drama, Fantasy

Plot Summary

A young woman named Diaphane, known for her beauty, is cursed to be silent and passive. As she grows older, she becomes increasingly isolated and disconnected from the world around her, struggling to find her own voice and identity. The film explores her journey as she grapples with her predetermined fate and seeks to break free from the constraints placed upon her.

Critical Reception

Catherine Breillat's 'The Sleeping Beauty' received a divided critical reception, with many praising its artistic ambition and Léa Seydoux's performance, while others found its narrative opaque and its themes challenging to engage with. The film sparked discussions about its exploration of female desire, passivity, and the subversion of fairy tale tropes.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its bold, artistic vision and provocative themes.

  • Criticized for its slow pacing and abstract narrative.

  • Léa Seydoux's performance was widely acknowledged as a strong point.

Google audience: Audience reviews are mixed, with many appreciating the film's unique artistic approach and Seydoux's compelling portrayal. However, a significant portion found the story too ambiguous and the deliberate pacing made it difficult to connect with the characters or narrative.

Fun Fact

The film is a modern, dark, and complex reimagining of the classic fairy tale, focusing on psychological and erotic themes rather than a straightforward fantasy narrative.

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