Rise (2022)

Unwatchable. Perhaps if you can stream it somewhere without HDR, or you just don't have an HDR TV, like my 85-inch OLED, you'll be able to see it in SDR, which I'm assuming might be watchable. Otherwise, you're left with a dark mess, with day shots looking like night shots and night shots looking like shadows of indeterminable colors dancing across the screen sporadically. Impossible to say if it would have been good, as I simply can't see what's going on. So that's a one from me, for unwatchable.

We are treated to some fine ballet at the start of this film before prospective star "Elise" (Marion Barbeau) goes over on her ankle. It's not the first time this has happened, and the prognosis from the doctors is not good. A broken bone and loads of swelling might necessitate surgery and, well, no more dancing. That news takes a bit of getting use to, but "Elise" is not one for sitting moping. She discusses things with her parents and decides that a bit of physiotherapy helping out a modern dance troupe in Brittany might be the answer. At least it will give her a break from her dizzy dad (Denis Podalydès). Her arrival is welcomed and she soon settles in, being asked to help out one of the dancers with his routine and reminding her that this more to life than dance. extending from that scenario, there's quite a fun scene with her ponytailed physiotherapist "Yann" (François Civil) who tells her, hopefully, that she should meet someone. His crestfallen face when she says that perhaps she has is almost sad, and it worsens when she declares it might be "Mehdi" (Mehdi Baki)! Essentially, this is a film about her and her compulsions. To dance and to herself mainly, and Barbeau is on good form delivering a character that has had her future snatched from her, but who is undeterred in making a new one. It has elements of "Fame" (1980) to it - a group of otherwise unlikely friends who are drawn together by their love of dance, music - and peeling potatoes. Pio Marmaï adds value, too, as the rather whacky cook "Loïc" and all in all I think this is quite enjoyable to watch.