White Nights (1985)

Directed by: Taylor Hackford | 131 minutes | drama, music | Actors: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski, Helen Mirren, Geraldine Page, Isabella Rossellini, John Glover, Stefan Gryff, William Hootkins, Shane Rimmer, Florence Faure, David Savile, Ian Liston, Benny Young, Hilary Drake, Megumi Shimanuki, Daniel Benzalic

‘White Nights’ is a good example of art imitates life: protagonist Mikhail Baryshnikov, the famous ballet dancer, often mentioned in the same breath as Rudolf Nureyev and Vaslav Nijinksy, plays in this drama a ballet dancer who once left his native Russia for his salvation. to search in the United States. Baryshnikov himself applied for political asylum in Toronto in 1974 while touring there with the Mariinsky Ballet. Okay, that’s where the similarities end, but this knowledge and Baryshnikov’s performance definitely give ‘White Nights’ the desired authenticity.

Nikolai ‘Kolya’ Rodchekno (Baryshnikov) is a celebrated ballet dancer who, after the unparalleled performance in the opening scene, sits on a plane with his manager en route to Japan. With problems with the plane, the crew sees no other option but to crash-land in Siberia. Once Kolya realizes this, he panics completely and tries to disguise his identity by destroying his passport. In vain. In his nervous emergency grab, he is seriously injured and when he comes to, he is in the hands of the state he hates so much. Colonel Chaiko (Jerzy Skolimowski) immediately understands the state of the flag and offers Kolya a way out. Instead of imprisoning him, they would like to keep Kolya. But then he has to admit that on second thought, Russia is not such a bad country to be in.

To keep Kolya in Russia at all costs, Chaiko has a sinister plan in mind. He still owes a favor from the American tap dancer Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines) and his Russian-born wife Darya (Isabella Rossellini, in the title role it is insinuated that this is her first role, but that is not quite true). Greenwood fled the US precisely because he was discriminated against there. Kolya and Raymond are absolute opposites. Still, Chaiko thinks it’s a good idea to let them live together in Kolya’s former apartment in Saint Petersburg. Kolya can perform again in his familiar Kirov theater and it will be as if he never left.

For all good intentions, Kolya has very different plans. And that doesn’t change the presence of Kolya’s former lover Galina Ivanova (Helen Mirren), who now holds a high position in the Kirov Theater and who Kolya left behind when he fled the USSR. At first, Raymond and Kolya clash, but as time goes on, and with the help of music and dance, the two talented performers grow closer. Because the KGB keeps a close eye on the apartment and has also placed listening devices there, the threesome must be inventive to prepare for their escape – because it is no surprise that it will come. For example, Kolya pretends that he is in love with Darya and that this causes continuous friction between Raymond and him.

‘White Nights’ – the title refers to the white nights in Saint Petersburg between 11 June and 2 July – is mainly due to the energetic dance scenes, which are superbly portrayed. Hines and Baryshnikov are a sight to behold. You would wish there were more dance scenes in it, but that will sell less well for commercial reasons. The simple story surrounding the escape attempt never reaches the level of those beautiful fragments, but is nevertheless entertaining and sometimes even a tad exciting. The film has a number of strong supporting roles. Helen Mirren, Isabella Rossellini and Jerzy Skolimowski are all on top. ‘White Nights’ won an Oscar for Lionel Richie’s song “Say You, Say Me”, but you’ll probably also know “Separate Lives” by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin. Many movies have less to recommend than that.