Resilient Man, a captivating documentary by French filmmaker Stéphane Carrel, chronicles ballet star Steven McRae’s journey of physical and emotional recovery.
One of the standout films from the 19th Doc Edge Festival is undoubtedly the documentary feature Resilient Man by French filmmaker Stéphane Carrel. Showcasing exceptional craftsmanship, the film chronicles the journey of internationally renowned ballet dancer Steven McRae as he navigates a challenging path to recovery following a severe Achilles tendon injury. For McRae, whose body is his instrument, returning to the stage requires both physical and moral reconstruction, confronting the transient nature of his demanding profession where passion and the constant push to exceed limits exact a heavy toll. Carrel’s gentle touch and keen visual sense masterfully deliver a tale of universal resilience, appealing equally to ballet enthusiasts and newcomers alike. We had the pleasure of meeting Carrel in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Resilient Man received its international premiere at Doc Edge 2024.
Their first meeting in London marked an immediate connection between Stéphane Carrel and Steven McRae. Carrel recalls, “I felt I had to meet him in London before everything stopped.” This urgency, catalyzed by the looming COVID-19 pandemic, prompted Carrel’s journey to London. Their initial day together immersed them fully in the Royal Ballet, where McRae shared his passion and commitment to the project. “At the end of the day, we had a big meeting with the entire Royal Ballet team to discuss the film and the project,” Carrel recounts, noting McRae’s strong determination to share his story despite his injury.
This initial encounter not only solidified their collaboration but also allowed Carrel to explore the human and professional dimensions of the Royal Ballet, an unusual insight in the industry. Carrel was particularly impressed by the institution’s fourth-floor facilities dedicated to dancer care, including gyms, physiotherapists, nutritionists, psychologists, and masseurs. “It’s an entire floor, so there’s a gym, there are physios… it’s phenomenal attention to the dancer’s body,” he remarks.
The Royal Ballet’s director, himself a former injured dancer, implemented a care system for dancers. “There is indeed this constant kindness here, which is not the case in all companies,” notes Carrel. This compassion contrasts with the fierce competition inherent in the dance world, where injuries are often hidden for fear of losing one’s place.
Resilient Man portrays McRae’s physical recovery alongside his mental journey. Carrel emphasizes the constant mental challenges McRae faces: “He doubts himself every day… even when he manages to get back on stage, the question is, ‘Will he last through the season?'” Carrel aimed to convey this ongoing tension in the film, illustrating the unpredictable nature of McRae’s career where each day presents a new hurdle to overcome.
A pivotal moment in the film occurs when McRae rediscovers the true joy of dance. For him, it wasn’t just about returning to the stage for the first ballet after his injury, but about reconnecting with the pure joy he experienced as a young dancer. Carrel explains, “He rediscovered the sensations of a young boy discovering dance and realizing how wonderful it is to dance.” This moment signifies a turning point in the film, where McRae achieves a state of liberation and happiness, proving that his passion for dance remains undiminished despite the challenges he faces.
The pandemic delayed filming but allowed Carrel and McRae to develop a strong bond through weekly video calls. “We spent 2 hours on Zoom every Friday for a good while,” Carrel recalls, noting how these exchanges fostered a relationship of trust and mutual understanding. McRae even joked with Carrel, saying, “I think you know me better than my wife.”
This bond was crucial to the film’s quality, enabling Carrel to capture McRae in moments of intimacy and vulnerability without the camera being intrusive. As both director and cameraman on the film, Carrel emphasized the importance of working alone, without a large crew, to preserve the intimacy and authenticity of the film.
Carrel approached the making of Resilient Man with a distinct artistic vision, aiming to capture the beauty of dance through careful and aesthetic imagery. “I am extremely attached to the image, the framing… I really wanted to work on the aesthetic of the image,” he explains. For Carrel, filming dance presents an aesthetic challenge, and he wanted each frame to reflect the artistry of McRae’s journey, his doubts, concentration, and evolution. The result is a film that occasionally touches on impressionism, where the image alone tells McRae’s story, capturing his doubts, concentration, and evolution. Additionally, the direction and editing perfectly complement McRae’s gentle nature, creating a highly engaging film for the viewer.
Another successful element in Resilient Man that demonstrates meticulous attention to detail is the film’s score. The soundtrack was composed by Sylvain Millepied, a long-time collaborator. Carrel explains, “Sylvain is a composer I work with for all my films… but for this film, we worked differently because usually, I give him inspirations, he starts composing, sends me themes, and we start thinking.” For Resilient Man, however, Carrel asked Millepied to wait until the editing phase before beginning work on the music.
Carrel wanted the music to be more than just an accompaniment: “I wanted it the music to be like a character, to merge with the story and with my character.” To achieve this, Millepied used strings to echo the tightrope on which McRae walks. Carrel recounts, “One morning, I woke up and called Sylvain and said… I want you to compose a note for me… I want it to be present from the beginning to the end of the film.” Millepied chose an “E” and worked it on a violin, trembling and feverish. When recording the soundtrack in the studio with professional musicians, Carrel recalls the overwhelming emotion he felt: “When we recorded that note, it was phenomenal because I thought it was incredible.”
Carrel hopes that Resilient Man will inspire future generations of dancers to consider their careers in a healthier light, recognizing the importance of caring for both their bodies and minds. “These are stories that can really help, that can really nourish future generations,” affirms Carrel. His goal with this film is to change mindsets and promote a more compassionate and understanding approach in the dance world.
Resilient Man is one of those films that honors the genre of documentary cinema, as it is highly relevant and effective in its documentary aspect, while being rich in cinematic quality. We would have liked to see it in the awards at Doc Edge 2024, but its career is certainly far from over. Stéphane Carrel eagerly anticipates the UK broadcast and hopes to find a distributor in Australia, Steven McRae’s home country.
We are thrilled to be covering Doc Edge 2024 on the ground in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. Explore our exclusive coverage here.
