Dying Briefly ***

Starring: Martín Saracho, Joan Kuri, Mikael Lacko, Nova Coronel 

Director: Juan Briseño

Country: Mexico

UK Distributor: TLA Releasing

When Sebastian (Saracho) starts at one of the most prestigious dance companies in Mexico, his initial experience is very positive. The dancers welcome him into their company and he begins a romance with Arsenio (Kuri), one of his colleagues. This is all shattered by the arrival of Mikael (Lacko), the brutal new choreographer, who puts the whole troupe through a sadistic regime in order to improve their performance. Not only is it physically punishing, but also emotionally manipulative, positioning the two lovers – and the former lead dancer, Luciano (Coronel) – cruelly against each other.

A homoerotic Black Swan but with less feathers and more crotch-hugging leotards, the film really gets the wind in its sails as Mikael pushes his dancers toward the edge of their sanity. Reports abound of directors and choreographers alike who have believed that artists must suffer to produce their greatest work – and the performers who ascribe to these ideas – but to the lay-person watching from outside, it is difficult to get into this mindset. Positioned from the perspective of Sebastian, who is more sceptical of Mikael’s techniques than others, we watch as he slowly gets caught in the ebbing tide that takes him further from equilibrium.

The film spends a lot of its runtime observing the lithe and willowy bodies of its leads coupled in both dance and sex. The intimacy of their performance is reflected in their relationship on screen, but it’s no coincidence that the most athletic and charismatic character who oozes with sex appeal is, of course, Mikael. Using sex as his tool to exert control, we become as enamoured of him as his dancers and while his actions do seem cruel, there is delightful ambiguity around whether his techniques actually bring the results he wants.

The final act delivers – as you would expect – a big dollop of dance which, of course, is laden with symbolism and metaphor. Sensual, well-composed and frenetic, this dance movie totally succeeds in capturing the breathlessness of a soulful dance show, even if its leads are particularly wet. But Mikael? We’re totally here for you.

UK Release: Out now to watch on VOD, released by TLA Releasing

#DyingBriefly