MovieChat Forums > Our Kind of Traitor (2016) Discussion > Significance of the opening scene?

Significance of the opening scene?

posted 7 years ago by DeepCinema
4 replies | jump to latest

~ with the ballet dancer? What was that about anyway?

It had me thinking that there must be a homosexual element in the plot, which there wasn't. Was it supposed to represent a more cultural dimension of Russian society? If so, why? Certainly that ostentatious birthday party Dema threw for his daughter didn't have any great pretentions of high society– just obscene wealth.

Anyhow, I think opening scenes should be polished to the max and give a huge clue as to what frequency will be operating throughout, and this one just threw me off.

[–] hilaryjrp 7 years ago

Me as well. It probably was intended to showcase the Bolshoi ballet dancer; he's listed on IMDB as a star (at least he was listed as a star a few months ago). Maybe he sunk some money into the production.

This film was a kind of international "Internal Affairs," the 90's film that pitted Richard Gere, as a corrupt and murderous cop, against Andy Garcia and Laurie Metcalf. At some points, you rooted for Richard Gere the way you root for Skarsgaard. If I recall correctly, Laurie Metcalf played a lesbian. There still was more passion between the two partners than there was between McGregor and his co-star in this one.

[–] DeepCinema 7 years ago

O! That's an interesting surmise ~ Is he listed as a producer?

LOL! ~ Yes, this couple largely dudded out in the chemistry department!

[–] margotlorena 7 years ago

the wife and daughter of the firt russian that got killed in that road block were in that ballet, in a box, watching the dancer. I guess they just wanted to show the ballet dancer in motion, living, pulsing, in contrast two Dima and his friend exchanging paperwork, knowing it could not go well with the prince.

[–] yarik83 7 years ago

Ballet is an integral part of russian culture. Virtually all russians either routinely go or have gone to ballet. As a russian I don't know why... I personally find it absolutely boring and repetitive. I realize how much work goes into training and all but it just looks like .... well I won't go there... I just think that I am just not cut out for it. My mother, on the other hand.... starts weeping profusely and goes all gaga over it.

Showing ballet in opening scene was just to show a part of russian culture.

I would be more worried about pointless nudescene after the fact.