John Cranko
by
Joachim A. Lang
A cinematic, dance-infused tribute to the virtuoso choreographer who became a pop star on the world's greatest ballet stages (‘Ingenious and breathtaking,' The New York Times). Sam Riley ("Control") delivers a profoundly moving performance, seamlessly navigating the dark depths and creative frenzy of his character.
Prosecuted for homosexual activity in London, the up-and-coming choreographer John Cranko is stranded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1960. With his charming demeanor, the manic workaholic swiftly revitalizes the ballet company of this rather sleepy, sympathetic city. After a controversial replacement of the prima donna and a series of new additions, Cranko's first production of Romeo and Juliet is a sensational success: the emotional performances of his dancers move the audience to tears. Cranko becomes the darling of the public, with a soon globally renowned ensemble, invited to perform at prestigious venues such as New York's Metropolitan Opera and Beijing's Tianqiao Theatre. Driven by a quest for perfection in both art and love, Cranko grapples with destructive private setbacks, plunging into periods of profound loneliness and depression. However, as long as his devoted dancers stand by him, he sees no reason to alter his intoxicating lifestyle…
Genre
/ Language
/ Length
Drama
/ German / 133 minutes
Original title
John Cranko
directed by
Joachim A. Lang
director of photography
Philipp Sichler
produced by
Zeitsprung Pictures in co-production with SWR
Cast
- Sam Riley (CONTROL, SS-GB)
- Elisa Badenes
- Max Schimmelpfennig (DARK)
- Hanns Zischler (MUNICH, FLAME & CITRON )
- Lucas Gregorowicz (GENERATION WAR, SS-GB)
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Press Quotes
“Sam Riley gives a bravura performance in accomplished ballet biopic. There have been relatively few biopics about choreographers, but it's hard to think of a better one than “John Cranko”. Joachim A. Lang's feature finds unusually vivid means of conveying how a driven creator's mind works by having the dance ideas in his head constantly integrated into the everyday life depicted. With a terrific performance by Sam Riley in the title role, this handsome production should reignite interest in a figure whose rising international stature got curtailed by his abrupt demise in 1973, at age 45.With full cooperation from the current Stuttgart Ballet and other keepers of the subject's legacy, the film's physical resources are often spectacular, even beyond the superb dancing itself. Largely using the original locations, Philip Sichler's widescreen photography is rich in elegance.“
VARIETY
„One of the highlights of the Palm Springs Film Festival was Joachim A. Lang's beautiful German-language film, “John Cranko”. Riley is absolute perfection in the role.“
WASHINGTON BLADE
„Riley gives a fully dedicated performance.It has a lot of beautiful, generously filmed dancing and newly recorded symphonic music... An essential achievement of this film is to use dancers as actors and make it work. What's outstanding, if you accept its poetic license, is the way this film shows Cranko visualizing choreography, with Riley demonstrating the man's passion right away in interpreting Shakespeare to the dancers.“
CHRIS KNIPP FORUM
„The dancing is breathtaking and the camera is fully respectful of his choreography. Technically, could this be one of the best ballet films ever made? This feast of a film is a fitting tribute to a legendary figure of the dance world and is an immersive treat not only for ballet lovers. With a soundtrack featuring Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Verdi and Britten, seductive cinematography, art and lighting design and a bold performance by Sam Riley it is sure to appeal to many.“
QUEER GURU
„It has such an engrossing narrative, as well as being a superbly realised production, that those two and a bit hours absolutely raced along. The film held one's attention from beginning to end.The dancing throughout was just superb from the entire dancing cast. Cranko is a spectacular film. I can't wait to see it again — somehow.”
MICHELLE POTTER
“Sam Riley embodies the title character just as touchingly as he played Joy Division singer Ian Curtis at the beginning of his career, he once again succeeds in credibly bringing a deceased icon to life, and under the strict gaze of those who knew Cranko personally.“
EPD FILM
”Riley's powerful performance carries the film."“Joachim A. Lang has achieved something extraordinary: a moving music and dance film with world-class dance scenes; a work of art based on other works of art.”
“The cinematic monument he deserves”
SPIEGEL MAGAZINE
“Philipp Sichler's camera perspectives are as dynamic and compelling as the moments of destiny they capture on stage. But the film's real sensation is the cast: Sam Riley plays John Cranko with every fiber of his being.”
“Riley's furious performance is the centerpiece of the film. The dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet, who slip into the skin of their predecessors, grow beyond themselves – above all Elisa Badenes, Jason Reilly and Friedemann Vogel.”
SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG
“This is a must-see movie, emotionally gripping, stirring, enchanting in its imagery, but never romanticized. And above all, Sam Riley is crowned with perhaps the best performance of his career”.
PROGRAMMKINO.DE
“Seems to be more than just a film for ballet fans / very touching, very worth seeing.”
ZDF MORGENMAGAZIN
“Excellent”
MÜNCHNER MERKUR
“Sam Riley's portrayal of Cranko is Oscar-worthy”
KREUZER LEIPZIG
“The images are intoxicatingly beautiful - a masterpiece“
HAMBURGER MORGENPOST
“A sumptuous dance film about an almost forgotten genius.”
RBB KULTUR
”A tender homage to the beauty and sadness of great art.“
KULTURNEWS
”JOHN CRANKO is a tribute.“ ”Sam Riley plays the choreographer with incredible presence.“
BR KINO KINO / 3SAT KULTURZEIT
“A sensitive drama with scenes like paintings“
EMOTION
VARIETY
„One of the highlights of the Palm Springs Film Festival was Joachim A. Lang's beautiful German-language film, “John Cranko”. Riley is absolute perfection in the role.“
WASHINGTON BLADE
„Riley gives a fully dedicated performance.It has a lot of beautiful, generously filmed dancing and newly recorded symphonic music... An essential achievement of this film is to use dancers as actors and make it work. What's outstanding, if you accept its poetic license, is the way this film shows Cranko visualizing choreography, with Riley demonstrating the man's passion right away in interpreting Shakespeare to the dancers.“
CHRIS KNIPP FORUM
„The dancing is breathtaking and the camera is fully respectful of his choreography. Technically, could this be one of the best ballet films ever made? This feast of a film is a fitting tribute to a legendary figure of the dance world and is an immersive treat not only for ballet lovers. With a soundtrack featuring Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Verdi and Britten, seductive cinematography, art and lighting design and a bold performance by Sam Riley it is sure to appeal to many.“
QUEER GURU
„It has such an engrossing narrative, as well as being a superbly realised production, that those two and a bit hours absolutely raced along. The film held one's attention from beginning to end.The dancing throughout was just superb from the entire dancing cast. Cranko is a spectacular film. I can't wait to see it again — somehow.”
MICHELLE POTTER
“Sam Riley embodies the title character just as touchingly as he played Joy Division singer Ian Curtis at the beginning of his career, he once again succeeds in credibly bringing a deceased icon to life, and under the strict gaze of those who knew Cranko personally.“
EPD FILM
”Riley's powerful performance carries the film."“Joachim A. Lang has achieved something extraordinary: a moving music and dance film with world-class dance scenes; a work of art based on other works of art.”
“The cinematic monument he deserves”
SPIEGEL MAGAZINE
“Philipp Sichler's camera perspectives are as dynamic and compelling as the moments of destiny they capture on stage. But the film's real sensation is the cast: Sam Riley plays John Cranko with every fiber of his being.”
“Riley's furious performance is the centerpiece of the film. The dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet, who slip into the skin of their predecessors, grow beyond themselves – above all Elisa Badenes, Jason Reilly and Friedemann Vogel.”
SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG
“This is a must-see movie, emotionally gripping, stirring, enchanting in its imagery, but never romanticized. And above all, Sam Riley is crowned with perhaps the best performance of his career”.
PROGRAMMKINO.DE
“Seems to be more than just a film for ballet fans / very touching, very worth seeing.”
ZDF MORGENMAGAZIN
“Excellent”
MÜNCHNER MERKUR
“Sam Riley's portrayal of Cranko is Oscar-worthy”
KREUZER LEIPZIG
“The images are intoxicatingly beautiful - a masterpiece“
HAMBURGER MORGENPOST
“A sumptuous dance film about an almost forgotten genius.”
RBB KULTUR
”A tender homage to the beauty and sadness of great art.“
KULTURNEWS
”JOHN CRANKO is a tribute.“ ”Sam Riley plays the choreographer with incredible presence.“
BR KINO KINO / 3SAT KULTURZEIT
“A sensitive drama with scenes like paintings“
EMOTION
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