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Becoming Giulia

Switzerland 2022 / Documentary / 103 minutes / Director: Laura Kaehr / Parental guidance
  • »You are not "just" a vessel, you are an artist and as such you interpret and bring your own personalities and experiences into it: A child can change art and art needs change!«

    artechock

  • »It’s interesting to see a documentary exploring the challenges for a new mother returning to work – and when that new mother happens to be a prima ballerina, the results are especially fascinating.«

    DEADLINE

  • »"Becoming Giulia" shows Giulia Tonelli as a strong woman and mother and also offers a very interesting insight into a world that normally remains hidden to outsiders. Even if you have no connection to ballet, this film as a whole is very interesting and well worth seeing.«

    film-rezensionen.de

  • »As a result, the camera in 'Becoming Giulia' not only dances along with the protagonist, but also begins to hover on its own and sometimes briefly goes on an exploratory tour.«

    Filmdienst

  • »BECOMING GIULIA is an unagitated, intimate portrait of the extraordinary Mrs Tonelli, who is now a mother of two.«

    Framerate

  • Interview with Giulia Tonelli: »I'm trying to find myself: as a mother and a dancer. Giulia on stage has everything under control, mum Giulia doesn't always. But that's okay.«

    Freundin

  • »A well-composed documentary film that brought him closer to the world of dance.«

    hr2 Kultur

  • »"Becoming Giulia" is a testament to the powers that are released in a mother!«

    Indiekino

  • »Even the opening of the film shows Kaehr's audiovisual sense of style - when Tonelli dances alone on stage in the empty hall of the opera house. Later, we see parts of a production, are behind the scenes and feel the exhaustion after a big performance. The ballet world here is a microcosm in which the conflicts and obstacles for parents and mothers in particular are illustrated; ultimately, however, Becoming Giulia deals with a subject that can be transferred to a number of other industries.«

    kino-zeit.de

  • »The cameras follow Tonelli up close and capture her dancing magic of expression and power. The fact that director Laura Kaehr once danced professionally herself and has a special eye for the artistic staging of movements pays off in scenes like this.«

    Missy Magazine

  • »Kaehr uses Tonelli as an example to show where classical ballet stands and where modern ballet wants to go.«

    nd-aktuell.de

  • »"Becoming Giulia" tells the story of a liberation and personal development in images full of atmosphere. The director was a dancer herself, you can feel her closeness to the subject in the film.«

    NZZ

  • »If you are not only interested in the glamor of classical ballet, but also want to take a look behind the scenes, this film is perfect for you. [...] From the contrast between the perfect performance on stage and the dusty, sweaty atmosphere in which it was practiced and perfected, the film develops a fascination of its own that will also captivate people outside the dance scene.«

    Programmkino.de

  • »The child awakens unexpected powers in her with regard to her artistic expression, while at the same time she becomes more aware of the power structures of a profession that hardly allows for a normal private life.«

    Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung

  • »"Becoming Giulia" captures the energy of the intensive preparation, the excitement and the (time) pressure behind the scenes and the impressive result on stage.«

    spielfilm.de

  • »An exciting behind-the-scenes look at the ballet world!«

    SRF

  • »Reminiscent of Pina Bausch's way of working.«

    Strandgut

  • »Accompanying Giulia Tonelli on her journey is exciting and a true-to-life confrontation with the challenges that dancers and mothers face.«

    Stuttgarter Nachrichten

  • »"Becoming Giulia" becomes a plea for a different ballet, in which more women take on leading roles and in which female dancers - their needs, but also their creativity - play a greater role«

    Süddeutsche Zeitung

  • »A topic long overdue«

    tanznetz.de

  • »An unusual, gripping film about self-realization - not just for women and ballet lovers.«

    Textatur

  • »It's amazing to watch Giulia Tonelli dance, her bodywork is pure wonder, her expressiveness outstanding.«

    Watson

  • Interview with director Laura Kaehr

    Watson

  • Article & interview excerpts with Laura Kaehr & Giulia Tonelli

    WDR 5 Scala