(aka DÈSIR) Inside Paris’s Crazy Horse cabaret – the most famous nude dance show in the world. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman explores one of the most mythic and colorful places dedicated to women, the Crazy Horse – a legendary Parisian cabaret club, founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin. Over the years it has become the Parisian nightlife ‘must’ for visitors, ranking alongside the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Wiseman’s impeccable eye finds the Crazy Horse a uniquely French showcase, with an emphasis on elegance, perfectionism and a grueling schedule (2 shows a night and 3 on Saturdays, 7 days a week). The film shows us the rehearsals for and the unveiling of the brand new show – Désir – created by the renowned French choreographer Philippe Decouffle.

FRANCE • 2011 • 134 MINS. • IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES • ZIPPORAH FILMS

REVIEWS

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“Visits a French cabaret famous for its erotic dancers. In this film, as in its predecessors BOXING GYM and LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLET, he pays equal attention to the movement of bodies and the function of an institution. CRAZY HORSE is a study of artistic process that is itself a work of art, and, as such, a reminder of what a documentary can be. Mr. Wiseman has planted his camera at the intersection of the cerebral and the sensual... Some of the dances, at least as captured on film, are both pretentious and beautiful. Others are silly (occasionally on purpose), and a few do seem to touch the lofty and mysterious realms of the sexual imagination.”
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times

“ENGROSSING and MESMERIZING! Plenty of perky bare breasts; swaying bottoms; and eye-popping, sensual and surprisingly artistic avant-garde dance sequences.”
– Miranda Siegel, New York magazine

“Frederick Wiseman remains at the top of his game… (with this) typically first-rate vérité look at the famous Parisian cabaret club. The Crazy Horse, with its undulating bodies and gleaming fluorescent lights, offers a dazzling cinema experience. The choreographers strive to use their dancers in service of creativity entirely alien to audiences expecting simple striptease. Grade A-”
– Eric Kohn, indieWIRE

"SPELLBINDING! The filmmaker's exceptional artistry restores the faith of those wearied by the glut of cruddy-looking and poorly structured documentaries from the past decade... (Wiseman) demands, but amply rewards, our close attention."
– Melissa Anderson, Village Voice