In the spring of 1913, Parisian businessman Gabriel Astruc opens a new theater on the Champs Elysées. The first performance is the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', danced by the Ballet Russes. The rehearsal process is extremely fraught: the orchestra dislike Stravinsky's harsh, atonal music; the dancers dislike the 'ugly' choreography of Vaslav Nijinsky. The volatile, bisexual Nijinsky is in a strained relationship with the much older Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballet Russes' charismatic but manipulative impresario. Public expectation is extremely high after Nijinsky's success in 'L'apres-midi d'un faune'. Finally, 'The Rite of Spring' premieres to a gossip-loving, febrile, fashion-conscious Parisian audience sharply divided as to its merits.
as Vaslav Nijinsky
as Sergei Diaghilev
as Romola
as Astruc
as Jean Cocteau
as Pierre Monteux
as Grigoriev
as Antoine
as Ivory
as Lydia
as Patron
as Lady Hysteria
as Critic
as Bassoonist
as Marie Rambert
as Igor Stravinsky
as Ballerina
