For 15-year-old Oksanna life is about just one thing: dance
She's a talented dancer who has sacrificed her youth in order to fulfill her mother's lifelong dream of becoming a dancer. She attends Perms Order of Honour Choreographic School, far east in Russia - the mecca of ballet - and sees her parents just twice a year. A Beautiful Tragedy tells the intriguing story of her struggle to survive within the demanding circle of Russian ballerinas.
The dark side
Russian ballet is, without exaggeration, a distinct part of Russian selfconciousness. But, even though it is an exquisite form of beauty expressed through graceful body movements, it can only be reached through anguish, pain and disappointment.
The documentary reflects on ballet as a constant aspect of Russian culture. During the last 100 years the Russians have lived through several dramatic changes of their society. Communism overthrew the tsars empire, dictatorship and uniformism overthrew communism, Gorbatchov overthrew the dictatorship, and Putin reinstalled it with the blessing from capitalism - yet ballet remains the same. Regardless the colour of the political leadership of the country, it remains the pride of the Russian nation and the dream of most Russian girls.
In Oksanna's school, only thirty out of five hundred children are selected for the annual audition. These children tend to be on the verge of anorexia as they grow up believing fat is the enemy and beauty in all forms is the ultimate ideal.
A Beautiful Tragedy portrays the sacrifices, internal conflicts and contrasting traits of ballet through 15-year-old Oksanna, the girl who gave up her childhood in pursuit of the prestigious title of ballerina.
