THE RED SHOES

THE RED SHOES, 1948
United Kingdom | DCP, Color, 134’ | English, French, Russian
Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Esmond Knight

Inspired by the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale with the same title, The Red Shoes was well-received for its successful ballet performances and acting as well as its use of color and impressive cinematography at the time of its opening in 1948. Boris Lermentov, the director of a famous ballet company promises the aspiring ballet dancer Vicky that he will make her a prima ballerina. While Vicky falls in love with Julian who has composed a new score for The Red Shoes ballet, Boris has feelings for this talented young woman. Stuck in the middle of a love triangle, Vicky finds herself torn between her own happiness and her passion for ballet that seems to border on an obsession. As the red ballet shoes dominate Vicky with their mysterious force, the same red offered by the color palette of Technicolor arrests the viewers. Offering a successful visual, musical and narrative cinematic experience, the costumes worn by the characters also add to the film’s dramatic structure.