Documentaries

[longlegz]

Is all of Russia like this?! I'm kidding, but also not really. Or is this just how intensely all world-class athletes train?

When I was training I had a Russian trainer and therefore my answer is yes. I know some people think it's cruel, too much etc., but honestly I disagree. If you want to actually succeed, there's no other way in my opinion. I've never seen someone push themselves as much as when their trainers made them to. You won't win just by being great...
Also, when they said how competitions were lowering standards so Europeans could compete... I would be ashamed in their position if I did not fit the standards.

I'm convinced Margarita is the most mentally strong human on the planet

She won that gold in Olympics in 2016, so... And her friend/colleague Yana won the silver.

 

[FashionThin]

When I was training I had a Russian trainer and therefore my answer is yes. I know some people think it's cruel, too much etc., but honestly I disagree. If you want to actually succeed, there's no other way in my opinion.

The best, hardest-working models I've ever worked with have done Russian style gymnastics or ballet. I know Russian style is a dumb term but the girls were not all Russian, but their coaches or schools were Russian led or influenced. None of the mushy gushy shit we do in the states. Such hard workers, no excuses, harder on themselves than I am, etc. Such a difference from American girls, and I say this as an American girl .

 

[Tinyportia]

I've never seen someone push themselves as much as when their trainers made them to

The best, hardest-working models I've ever worked with have done Russian style gymnastics or ballet

ngl, I wish I had a Russian coach as my personal trainer...

 

[lattelover]

The best, hardest-working models I've ever worked with have done Russian style gymnastics or ballet. I know Russian style is a dumb term but the girls were not all Russian, but their coaches or schools were Russian led or influenced. None of the mushy gushy shit we do in the states. Such hard workers, no excuses, harder on themselves than I am, etc. Such a difference from American girls, and I say this as an American girl .

This x100. Every single Russian/Korean/Japanese girl I know is just so much more disciplined than girls from anywhere else (generally speaking). I didn’t find the documentary too hard to watch, perhaps because my school also has quite a prestigious ballet academy and I’ve been desensitised to hearing stories about extremely strict Russian teachers who are brutally honest. I think that the hard work and dedication is definitely also a bi-product of Russian culture too, where high academic results and excellence in your chosen sport or art are of the utmost importance. Ballet in particular is deeply ingrained into their cultural background and Prima ballerinas become nationwide icons, so those training to become one aim for the highest standards of perfection. I’m very close friends with a few girls of Russian descent and let me tell you, they’re the skinniest, smartest, most disciplined people I know. God I wish I was Russian

 

[marshall]

Good god the second one was painful to watch. Is all of Russia like this?! I'm kidding, but also not really. Or is this just how intensely all world-class athletes ?

Irina Viner her coach is highly well known in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, and I would say yes she is very harsh but fair. Viner quite literally, feeds, dresses, trains and takes them on vacation. Lots of people in the reviews for the Over the Limit documentary started shouting abuse, but in my view it’s not. It’s important to keep in mind that Russian mentality is very different from European /American so having teachers shout at you or call you an idiot even in elementary school is rather common. Therefore as you can imagine at the top level the stakes are higher. Abuse is having no regard for the atheltes physical and mental well being, whilst being strict is being demanding, perhaps grating at times but also caring immensely for them. Also keep in mind this is the year before the Olympics.

 

[Skinnybitch]

Irina Viner her coach is highly well known in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, and I would say yes she is very harsh but fair. Viner quite literally, feeds, dresses, trains and takes them on vacation. Lots of people in the reviews for the Over the Limit documentary started shouting abuse, but in my view it’s not. It’s important to keep in mind that Russian mentality is very different from European /American so having teachers shout at you or call you an idiot even in elementary school is rather common. Therefore as you can imagine at the top level the stakes are higher. Abuse is having no regard for the atheltes physical and mental well being, whilst being strict is being demanding, perhaps grating at times but also caring immensely for them. Also keep in mind this is the year before the Olympics.

That's true. For example, the gift for London’s Olympic gold for girls was shopping in Sardinia, Monaco, Cannes and St.Tropez using unlimited credit card, I mean, really, they were allowed to buy whatever they want in luxury boutiques, during the holidays at her husband’s yacht which is actually one of the most luxurious in the world. Girls had so much fun. She really does everything for gymnasts.

 

[Mandy.Bowie]

Grey Gardens (1975)



It's a documentary about former aristocrat ladies Big Edie (mother) and Little Edie (daughter). They have lost all their money and prestige but still live in their house in The Hamptons. The film follows this two women and their everyday lives, they barely leave the house and spend their days remembering the better past.

I love this documentary; both ladies are so eccentric but live in this limbo between the present and the past. Especially now during quarantine, the "being stuck at home forever" feeling of the documentary has makes it much more personal. It is a really interesting story with amazing real life characters. It is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen.


Bonus: editorials inspired on the movie

 

[little-bird]

Irina Viner her coach is highly well known in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, and I would say yes she is very harsh but fair. Viner quite literally, feeds, dresses, trains and takes them on vacation. Lots of people in the reviews for the Over the Limit documentary started shouting abuse, but in my view it’s not. It’s important to keep in mind that Russian mentality is very different from European /American so having teachers shout at you or call you an idiot even in elementary school is rather common. Therefore as you can imagine at the top level the stakes are higher. Abuse is having no regard for the atheltes physical and mental well being, whilst being strict is being demanding, perhaps grating at times but also caring immensely for them. Also keep in mind this is the year before the Olympics.

I'm 6 months late to the conversation (sorry!) but anecdotally I would like to add that my Vaganova trained teacher for character dance was extremely strict and terrifying to the point where she made me cry several times. However, she was also the only one of my teachers who expressed sadness when I left to pursue my academics, since she felt that I had a lot of potential. I think that it's a very different language of love which centers around the idea that what benefits a person in the long run might not feel pleasant in the moment -- a very foreign concept to Americans!

And now a proper contribution to the thread:
First Position (Trailer)


You can watch the full thing on Amazon or YouTube, and I highly recommend it. It's a glimpse into the world of competitive ballet, and I like that it features a variety of dancers with different backgrounds.

 

[longlegz]

First Position (Trailer)


I highly recommend it. It's a glimpse into the world of competitive ballet

I disagree. It's probably one of the worst ballet documentaries...

 

[little-bird]

I disagree. It's probably one of the worst ballet documentaries...

Aw, any particular reason why you disliked it? I think it can skew into overdramatic territory at times (probably to sell it for a non-dance audience) but I still think that it offered a good overview of the dancers.