Le Feu sacré

There comes a time in every young athlete's life when he or she must weigh the value of training against the isolation from the activities of other youths. In this French movie, Sonia Petrova plays a young ballerina pondering this question. Her teacher is incredibly strict and stern, and the regimen she requires is all-encompassing. She explores the alternatives through the help of a hip young male student of modern dance, with whom she has a brief affair, but decides to continue with her classical training.

Directed by Vladimir Forgency, Le Feu sacré leans on a strong ensemble — Sonia Petrovna, Lilian Arlen, Pierre Fuger — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1972.