THE WHITE CROW

Ralph Fiennes captures the raw physicality and brilliance of Rudolf Nureyev, whose escape to the West stunned the world at the height of the Cold War. Nureyev is played by world-class ballet performer Oleg Ivenko.

Ralph Fiennes (b. 1962) is an English actor, film producer and director. One of the highest profile actors in contemporary British popular culture, Fiennes appeared on Debrett’s 2017 list of the most influential people in the UK. Since 1999, Fiennes has served as an ambassador for UNICEF UK.  

After a number of exquisite roles which brought him multiple nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, Fiennes made his directorial debut with his film adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Coriolanus, in which he also played the title character.

Although the film’s many ballet scenes are stunning, to say the least (Polunin and company perform their own dance numbers), it’s this climax at the airport that audiences have come to see, using whatever clues Fiennes has supplied before to answer the mysterious question of why he did it.

Peter Debruge, Variety

Director Ralph Fiennes brings texture and emotional shading to this portrait of a brilliant, inscrutable man whose talent and temperament saw him rock the worlds of ballet and international relations.

Kate Taylor, BFI London Film Festival