I may not be a big fan of ballet – especially the traditional kind –
and yet I found myself totally captivated with this film. I was
partly won over by the modern style of most of the dances, but also by
the subtlety and skill of the photography, editing and direction.

What I also liked about this film, is the way that the story unfolds
in a natural, unforced way, and never takes over the work as a whole.
The dance and the dancers always remain the focus, and the narrative
simply weaves its way through as best it can. It's thanks to Altman
that this actually works.