Film Review: Birds of Paradise
Daniel Camargo and Diana Silvers in BIRDS OF PARADISE © 2021 Amazon Content Services LLC
By James Hastur
When finding yourself completely alone, betrayed or cast aside by those who surround you, being able to remain strong, true to yourself, and to push past these barriers allows you to surpass your limits and become something truly great.
While Kate, the American girl on scholarship coming to Paris for a chance to be a part of the Paris Ballet Company, appears to be the protagonist of the story, Marine (M.) steals the show. Both characters face adversity. Kate’s lack of understanding of how things work at the school and lack of money put her at a disadvantage compared to those around her, and M. has just returned to the school after having been institutionalized following the suicide of her twin brother.
Diana Silvers and Kristine Froseth in BIRDS OF PARADISE © 2021 Amazon Content Services LLC
Their initial rivalry quickly turns to a close friendship, as the girls’ bond grows, and they vow to each other that both of them will find a way to win the prize together. As Kate begins to grow confident in her position at the academy with the help of M., she begins to push away her friend, with M. feeling more strongly about their relationship than Kate does, and M. desiring to surpass her. As Kate spirals into selfishness, M., at her lowest point—alone, betrayed by her friend— uses the final competition to truly showcase her uniqueness. M. dances a contemporary and beautifully violent solo, allowing Kate the chance to dance with her partner. M. shows even more resilience at the end, declaring that she doesn't even want the prize and breaks free from her mother. Although Kate wins the prize, M. remains the true winner, being free to be herself and comfortable in her own dance.
L to R: Diana Silvers and Kristine Froseth in BIRDS OF PARADISE © 2021 Amazon Content Services LLC
M.’s strength contradicts what the other characters used to describe ballet throughout the film. Fillipe compares ballet to romance before having sex with Kate. M’s mother thinks M and her brother are having sex. Instead, they are just dancing and engaging in a threesome routine, where M., Kate, and Fillpe dance ballet around each other. M. doesn’t see ballet as romantic, but empowering and a way for her to truly be herself. This is what frustrates Kate, and what she can’t see until the end, when she is in the Jungle dancing to the routine M. created for her.
The story is accompanied by beautiful visuals and scenes of dancing. Most notable arethe scenes taking place in the Jungle, filled with surrealist imagery and hallucinations.
Birds of Paradise is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
