An epic film in scope, but intimate in the way we are imbedded in Polina’s life and passion.

| Feb 13, 2024

Polina is proof the familiar need not be unstimulating. With dynamic camerawork, excellent choreography, and sharp performances, even the most staid thematic premises can feel a little exciting.

| Dec 11, 2020

I know very little about the dance world, and I found it an endless source of fascination and artistic inspiration that completely captured the rigorous, frustrating world of professional dancers.

| May 13, 2020

The world of Polina most comes alive during the dance sequences, which is to be expected since Angelin Preljocaj, co-directing with screenwriter Valerie Muller, is a well-respected choreographer... Preljocaj captures the thrill of physical movement.

| Jan 23, 2020

While its beats are a bit roughhewn and familiar, impressive performance and a prosaic examination of an unyielding profession... supplies Preljocaj and Muller's debut collaboration with enough zest to justify a journey to an exquisite denouement.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 10, 2019

Polina is interesting exploration of the making of a dancer and a visual treat, particularly for fans of dance.

| Apr 26, 2019

[A] stylish coming-of-age story...

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 23, 2018

A marvelous paean to everything that goes into making great art: hard work, complicated humanity, taking risks, and trusting one's own instincts. Anastasia Shevtsova is tremendous as a young woman with an indomitable spirit.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 20, 2018

Despite the panache with which the dance sequences are presented, it is frustratingly inert dramatically.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 20, 2018

Polina is a film determined to move to its own narrative beats.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 17, 2018

Polina can be frustrating to an outsider to the world of dance, but when the film clicks it's a marvel of visual poetry, one that allows the movement of its characters to speak louder than words.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 31, 2018

A celebration of dance, music, and its nuanced protagonist, Polina is emphatically a success.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 26, 2018

An excellent Franco-Russian film choice, which will allow you to see beyond the surface of these nations. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 14, 2018

The main problem with Polina, the movie, is its script that begins following a line and is reconverted along with its protagonist in another... [Full review in Spanish]

| Jan 29, 2018

The film is interesting enough, especially if dance is your focus.

| Jan 12, 2018

When the film avoids overwrought melodramatics, the dance numbers are in step and rise above its flat story.

| Original Score: B- | Dec 26, 2017

This exquisite portrait of a dancer finding her way in the world is vibrant, captivating and engaging.

| Original Score: A | Nov 4, 2017

Polina [is] one of the most emotionally accurate coming-of-age films of recent years.

| Oct 25, 2017

... Polina starts to idle-first the training montage, then Polina's suffering father making a surprise visit, to be shocked by Polina's new life as a downtown barmaid, for instance.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 28, 2017

Polina is mesmerizing.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 23, 2017