Bolshoi Babylon

In 2013, Sergei Filin, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, was blinded in one eye by an acid attack organised by a dancer in his own company. What a dynamite situation for British director Nick Read and his team to walk into. Their cameras record the fall-out, as the police investigate and Filin recovers from surgery and returns to work under the Bolshoi’s stern new chief Vladimir Urin (the two men have had toxic dealings in the past).

We’re all set for sparks to fly, but unfortunately reality doesn’t quite live up to the set-up. Still, ballet fans will be nose to the screen, and though we only get snippets of on-stage action, Read captures a host of memorable images with a Degas-like feel for classical dancers in the spotlight.