Riot at the Rite

IMDb 9.0 2005 • 90 min • DramaHistory

Director

Andy Wilson

Country

GB

Plot Summary

In the spring of 1913, Parisian businessman Gabriel Astruc opens a new theater on the Champs Elysées. The first performance is the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', danced by the Ballet Russes. The rehearsal process is extremely fraught: the orchestra dislike Stravinsky's harsh, atonal music; the dancers dislike the 'ugly' choreography of Vaslav Nijinsky. The volatile, bisexual Nijinsky is in a strained relationship with the much older Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballet Russes' charismatic but manipulative impresario. Public expectation is extremely high after Nijinsky's success in 'L'apres-midi d'un faune'. Finally, 'The Rite of Spring' premieres to a gossip-loving, febrile, fashion-conscious Parisian audience sharply divided as to its merits.

Top Cast

Adam Garcia
Adam Garcia Vaslav Nijinsky
Alex Jennings
Alex Jennings Sergei Diaghilev
Emma Pierson
Emma Pierson Romola
Griff Rhys Jones
Griff Rhys Jones Astruc
Jonathan Aris
Jonathan Aris Jean Cocteau