A Russian American ballet dancer's airplane is forced to land in USSR, where he's "repatriated". He stays with an American man married to a Russian. Will the American help him flee USSR?A Russian American ballet dancer's airplane is forced to land in USSR, where he's "repatriated". He stays with an American man married to a Russian. Will the American help him flee USSR?A Russian American ballet dancer's airplane is forced to land in USSR, where he's "repatriated". He stays with an American man married to a Russian. Will the American help him flee USSR?
- Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMikhail Baryshnikov reportedly was insistent with the producers that gramatically-correct Russian be spoken in this movie instead of the often nonsensical hybrid often used in American movies. Baryshinkov also did a scene where he spoke French. In real life, it was his second language.
- GoofsMikhail Barishnikov goes through a sky light bare chested and emerges wearing T - shirt.
- Quotes
Colonel Chaiko: Modern man is so confused, Raymond. Finally, it's much better to work in the theater... than in a mine.
- Alternate versionsThe UK cinema release was cut by 16s to remove two uses of 'fuck' to earn a PG rating. Subsequent video versions restore the strong language and raise the certificate to 15.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: The Holcroft Covenant/Bring on the Night/Target (1985)
- SoundtracksSeparate Lives
(Love Theme)
Written by Stephen Bishop
Produced by Arif Mardin, Phil Collins, and Hugh Padgham
Performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
Courtesy of Atlantic Records and Virgin Records
Featured review
Way before Dirty Dancing there was White Nights!!
Enjoy the view of Roland Petit's "Le Jeune Homme et La Morte" and Baryshnikov's famous "pas de deux with a chair" (finally captured on film)as an almost participant, and the two self-choreographed studio sequences of Baryshnikov and Hines with a camera that moves as quickly over, below, and above the dancers as the dancers themselves. Having seen Baryshnikov live several times (once with the Kirov, then ABT, and from backstage wings once or twice), I had no problem guessing the outcome of that ruble/pirouette bet. So glory in the dance sequences and the views of two masters at work, and an enterprising and creative director with a political heart. The music is great (I particularly remember the sticky rhythmic beat of "My love is chemical" by Lou Reed). Despite the obvious age that the picture shows "White Nights" is a beautiful movie, with spectacular dancing sequences, definitely worth watching. Personally to me, it is certainly a pity that the whole story is still as appealing as it was over twenty years ago.
Overall, the acting is very good. Quite frankly, the pairing of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Greggory Hines and Isabella Rosselini is reason enough to see this film. Not that I'd recommend it to everybody. Sure, it feels kind of dated with the 80's music. And like every single dance movie I've ever seen, it's a little difficult to take it seriously when the characters suddenly stop their dialogue and dance because the screenplay says "insert stunning dance sequence here". In any case, I have always liked the tension in this movie, the struggle to be free and the dancing as a way to demonstrate all the forbidden thoughts and feelings. Baryshnikov and Hines were great dancing partners. Actually, just the dancing alone is worth watching this movie.
Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
Overall, the acting is very good. Quite frankly, the pairing of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Greggory Hines and Isabella Rosselini is reason enough to see this film. Not that I'd recommend it to everybody. Sure, it feels kind of dated with the 80's music. And like every single dance movie I've ever seen, it's a little difficult to take it seriously when the characters suddenly stop their dialogue and dance because the screenplay says "insert stunning dance sequence here". In any case, I have always liked the tension in this movie, the struggle to be free and the dancing as a way to demonstrate all the forbidden thoughts and feelings. Baryshnikov and Hines were great dancing partners. Actually, just the dancing alone is worth watching this movie.
Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
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- PredragReviews
- Jun 29, 2016
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- White Nights - Nacht der Entscheidung
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $42,160,849
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $477,539
- Nov 24, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $42,160,849
- Runtime2 hours 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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