RIOT AT THE RITE

UK, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.
Adam Garcia, Alex Jennings, Rachel Sterling.
Directed by Andy Wilson.

Riot at the Rite is a film about the preparation for and the first performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in 1913. It gives the opportunity for audiences (who need some kind of preparation for Stravinsky’s music and Nijinsky’s choreography – which the audience in 1913 found itself unprepared for) to appreciate the film.

The film shows the relationship between Diaghilev and Nijinsky, the sexual relationship – which was interrupted by Nijinsky’s marrying Romola and the separation from Diaghilev who expelled him from the company. The film also shows Stravinsky and his composing music which seems strange to the tastes of France in 1913.

Adam Garcia (Bootmen, Love’s Brother, Riding in the Car with Boys, Coyote Ugly), a trained dancer, is Nijinsky. The film focuses on his rehearsing the strange and unexpected choreography for Stravinsky’s music and his intense response to the performance. British stage actor, Alex Jennings, is Diaghilev. Rachel Sterling (Diana Rigg’s daughter) is the choreography mistress.

The film focuses on the interiors of the ballet world, the rehearsal rooms, the theatre and performance. The film gives the opportunity for audiences to see a performed, edited version of The Rite of Spring. What is of interest, as the title indicates, is the audience response to the piece. Allegedly civilised audiences behaved badly with hooting, interventions, whistling. Stravinsky, however, insisted that the company perform no matter what.

Director Andy Wilson and writer Kevin Elyot (My Night with Reg) have collaborated on a number of television programs including adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Poirot stories and Miss Marple stories.

1.Audience interest in Stravinsky, his music and its impact? Nijinsky and his dancing and choreography? Diaghilev and his productions?

2.The opportunity to see a performance of The Rite of Spring after the rehearsal sequences and the explanation of the theme?

3.The title, audience response, well-dressed audiences behaving badly? The catcalls, the hissing? Those wanting to like the play and the ballet?

4.Stravinsky, his background, his compositions, Paris audiences, his Russian influence? The modern music and the breakthrough from traditions? His character, push? Rehearsals, his clashes with Nijinsky about the choreography? The performance and his insisting it go through? The satisfaction at the end?

5.Diaghilev, his reputation as a producer? Russian background? His relationships, homosexuality, influence over the dancers? His not appreciating Stravinsky’s music, putting in the earplugs? Yet his wanting to produce, his putting his power behind the performance? The anticipation of the bad reception? During the performance? The scenes between himself and Nijinsky, sexual, intimate? Nijinsky’s reaction and walking out on him? His dismissing Nijinsky?

6.Nijinsky, his age, experience, Russian background? His skill as a dancer? Choreography? The Afternoon of a Faun and Debussy’s music? Intercutting the scenes of his curtain call for this piece? His being persuaded to choreograph The Rite of Spring, the intensity of the rehearsals, his hard dealings with the dancers, insisting they continue? His personal life, the relationship with Diaghilev, his not wanting the relationship? The encounters with Romelar, the attraction, the kiss? In the audience? The aftermath of his marrying her? The information about his schizophrenia and his surviving for another thirty years?

7.The dancers, the difficulties of a new ballet, the steps, turning their toes inwards? The stamping and gesticulations? Modern dance being introduced and cutting through traditional ballet? The influence of the Russian tradition?

8.The audience, those in favour, those against? The sarcastic remarks, the catcalls? The effect on the dancers? People holding Nijinsky back? His counting and urging them to go on?

9.The celebrities at the performance, Picasso and his drawing, Jean Cocteau?

10.The influence of The Rite of Spring? Its not being performed very often, Diaghilev taking it from the repertoire? Yet the impact on modern dance? Stravinsky’s influence on music in the 20th century?