Talia Ryder Goes to a Punishing Ballet School in ‘The American’ Trailer

Talia Ryder Goes to a Punishing Ballet School in ‘The American’ Trailer

by Alex Billington
May 9, 2024
Source: YouTube

“What will you do for the role? How much of your life are you willing to give?” Vertical has revealed the official US trailer for an indie thriller tilted The American, which originally premiered last year under the title Joika instead. Not to be confused with the George Clooney movie also called The American (can they even name it the same?). Based on a true story, The American follows one of the select few Americans, Joy Womack, to be admitted to the prestigious, but punishing, Russian Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, where she is tutored by the vaunted Tatiyana Volkova. She dreams of becoming a truly extraordianry ballerina, but at what cost? “Finding unlikely support from Volkova, she risks her health, relationships and potentially her life in her journey to determine what it means to be great.” Starring Talia Ryder as Joy, Diane Kruger as Volkova, Oleg Ivenko, and Natasha Alderslade. Haven’t heard much about this, despite playing at a few festivals last year. It looks super crazy mega intense! Whiplash but for ballet, or so it seems from this trailer.

Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for James Napier Robertson’s The American, direct from YouTube:

Based on the true story of Joy Womack (Talia Ryder) who is one of only a handful of foreigners, and only two American women, to ever penetrate Moscow’s infamously tough Bolshoi Ballet Academy when she graduated from its main training program and was offered a contract in 2014. Through Joy’s brilliance this is an inspirational journey into the most competitive, hostile dance school in the world. Spurred on by Volkova (Diane Kruger), the Bolshoi’s magnetic, masterful tutor, and the searing passions of first love, Joy’s leap into the unknown touches immortal perfection: But at what price? The American, also known as Joika, is written and directed by New Zealand writer / filmmaker James Napier Robertson, director of the films I’m Not Harry Jenson, The Dark Horse, and Whina previously, plus other shorts. It’s produced by Tom Hern, Belindalee Hope, Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska. This initially premiered at the 2023 Deauville Film Festival last year. Vertical releases The American in select US theaters + on VOD on May 17th, 2024.

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