The Red Shoes is a classic 1948 film about a young ballet dancer, Vicky, at the very beginning of a promising career. It features a famous exchange that undoubtedly appeals to dancers, where the head of the ballet company questions her, asking, "Why do you want to dance?" Vicky counters, "Why do you want to live?" The impresario replies, "Well, I don't know exactly why, but...I must." To which Vicky says, "That's my answer too." When her secret relationship with the company's choreographer is discovered, Vicky is forced to choose between her dance career and the love of her life. The interesting, beautifully shot film is based on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, about a girl who receives a pair of red shoes from a carnival which compel her to continue dancing, no matter where she goes or what she does. When she finally removes the shoes, she dies. It demonstrates the passion and devotion most dancers have for their craft, in an artistic and emotionally evocative manner. Over sixty years later, and The Red Shoes still resonates with audiences.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
