"The Show Must Go On"

3 November 2020

2 mins

The world's a stage.

As readers of DAVID will be painfully aware, 2020 has been an extremely tough year for the arts. Creatives and venues alike have limped their way through lockdowns and restrictions, with many succumbing to the economic bludgeoning of Covid-19. One thing which hasn't changed this year is the deep passion performers have for their craft - something which is captured beautifully in this resilient ad for Amazon.

The narrative spools out in unhurried fashion over two minutes, as a young ballerina's mood shifts from joy at being cast in a leading role to despair when the performance is cancelled. Yet thanks to a quick-thinking sibling and a supportive local community, there's a socially-distant solution.

Director Melina Matsoukas has done a wonderful job here, allowing the young dancer's determination and stamina to speak for themselves - no dialogue needed. An orchestral version of Queen classic 'The Show Must Go On' only enhances the film's emotional highs and lows, swelling in encouragement when the dancer finally takes to her unconventional stage. A glimmer of much-needed creative hope in depressing times.

UK

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