AllMovie

Robyn Orlin is a dancer and choreographer who has become one of the leading lights in the South African dance community. However, while she's won the respect of critics around the world, she's experienced no small amount of controversy at home; a fierce opponent of the apartheid regime in the 1980's and 90's, Orlin believes in using art to confront social and political injustice, and has created a number of provocative works that tackle racism, violence and oppression in South Africa. In 2007, Orlin traveled to France to premier L'Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato, a new dance piece which married her provocative images to the music of Handel; filmmakers Philippe Lainé and Stéphanie Magnant accompanied Orlin for the trip, and the documentary Robyn Orlin, From Johannesburg to the Palais Garnier follows the genesis of this production from the first rehearsals to opening night, offering a perspective both on how a major dance performance comes together as well as the style and working methods of a maverick artist on contemporary dance. Robyn Orlin, From Johannesburg to the Palais Garnier was an official selection at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival.