THE PERFECT

Synopsis

A little girl is learning to cope with criticism and family struggles. She finds comfort in her connection to nature, but is unknowingly learning how not to cry. A young woman has always done what her mother expects of her, until her mother’s dreams slowly become her own. A mature woman has built a charismatic persona, but fears facing her authentic self. Together, the three try to escape into the magical masochism of ballet. The Perfect is a black-and-white mosaic assembled from the realities of three ballerinas from different generations. They have never met in real life. The central theme of the film is hiding one’s pain and fears, from the effects of strict discipline on both body and psyche, to the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship, and the expectations that shape us. Through connections reminiscent of stream of consciousness, the film opens a space for a wider range of physical and psychological nuances, exploring the core of what it means to be imperfectly human.