Transferring ballet to film has always been a difficult task. Part of its beauty comes in witnessing the dance unfold before one's eyes, and such elements as close-ups and editing intrude on the dancer's and the choreographer's art. This version of the Christmas classic directed by Carroll
Ballard attempts to rework a highly praised stage production for the screen, and while it is not entirely successful as a dance film, Ballard does capture the uniqueness of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's revolutionary production. The story follows Clara (played by both Vanessa Sharp and Patricia
Barker), a 12-year-old whose real world becomes magical one Christmas, when her toys come alive and she becomes enamored of the Nutcracker, her dream lover. The unusual sets by Maurice Sendak transfer well to screen and add a remarkable visual element to this adaptation.
