''Etoile'' () is a 1989 film starring

Jennifer Connelly Jennifer Lynn Connelly (born December 12, 1970) is an American actress. She began her career as a child model before making her acting debut in the 1984 crime film ''Once Upon a Time in America''. After having worked as a model for several year ...

and Gary McCleery.

Plot

The American ballerina Claire Hamilton travels to Hungary to join a prestigious ballet school. The school is haunted by the spirit of a ballerina who died in a carriage accident, that possesses Claire.

Cast

Production

Following the release of the science fiction film ''

Julia and Julia ''Julia and Julia'' ( it, Giulia e Giulia) is a 1987 Italian drama film directed by Peter Del Monte. The screenplay by Silvia Napolitano, Sandro Petraglia, Joseph Minion, and Del Monte is based on a story by Napolitano. Synopsis Julia is a you ...

'', director

Peter Del Monte Peter Del Monte (29 July 1943 – 31 May 2021) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed fifteen films between 1969 and 2021. His 1982 film ''Invitation au voyage'' won the prize for the Best Artistic Contribution at the 1982 ...

followed up the film with another in the ''

fantastique ''Fantastique'' is a French term for a literary and cinematic genre that overlaps with science fiction, horror, and fantasy. The ''fantastique'' is a substantial genre within French literature. Arguably dating back further than English lan ...

'' genre. The producer

Achille Manzotti Achille Manzotti (10 November 1943 – 20 July 2007) was an Italian television and film producer. Born in Fara Gera d'Adda, after some experiences as a musician, in the 1970s Manzotti moved to Milan where he became manager of a number of lo ...

provided the director with a cast that included

, Gary McCleery and

Charles Durning Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.Schudel, Matt (December 26, 2012) "''In real life and on the screen, he played countless role ...

. Filming began in

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

and Italy in 1988 under the working title of ''Ballerina''.

Release

''Etoile'' was distributed theatrically in Italy by Aristi Associati and released on 17 March 1989. The film was awarded the Critic's Award at the 1990 Fantasporto Film Festival in Portugal.

Reception

According to Italian critic and historian Roberto Curti, ''Etoile'' was "ravaged" by Italian critics. Maurizio Porro of ''

Corriere della Sera The ''Corriere della Sera'' (; en, "Evening Courier") is an Italian daily newspaper published in Milan with an average daily circulation of 410,242 copies in December 2015. First published on 5 March 1876, ''Corriere della Sera'' is one of It ...

'' stated the film appeared to resemble a remake of

Dario Argento Dario Argento (; born 7 September 1940) is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and film critic, critic. His influential work in the horror film, horror genre during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the subgenre known as ...

's ''

Opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

'' "without suspense". Porro commented that the film was "confused and not at all fascinating" declaring it Del Monte's worst film.

References

Footnotes

Sources

External links

* * 1989 films English-language Italian films Films about ballet Films set in Budapest Films shot in Budapest Swan Lake Films directed by Peter Del Monte Films scored by Jürgen Knieper 1980s Italian films {{1980s-Italy-film-stub