Crazy Horse

Frederick Wiseman is still recording in minute detail the goings-on in social institutions, from the insane asylum of \i Titicut Follies to\i Boxing Gym\i0 (2010). But this virtuoso documentary filmmaker is increasingly shifting his attention from social tension to rhythmic physical movement. Like his two earlier dance films situated in France, \i La Com\'e9die-Fran\'e7aise ou l'amour jou\'e9 \i0 and \i La Danse - The Paris Opera Ballet\i0 , his new work \i Crazy Horse\i0 consists primarily of female dancers and their graceful, flowing, and harmoniously intertwined movements. The major difference is that the subjects are more naked than ever before. This time, Wiseman directs his camera at Le Crazy Horse, an erotic theater in Paris that claims to offer "the best nude dance show in the world." Artistic standards here are far higher than in an average strip club. Here we find stylish choreography, atmospheric lighting, and varied selections of music. But the passionate choreographer Philippe Decoufl\'e9 is constantly at odds with shareholders, who try to boost profits by placing his troupe under intense pressure to work long hours - he is convinced that this has detrimental effects on the quality. A loyal user of 16mm for four decades, Wiseman shot this film using a digital camera for the first time. Be that as it may, his unadorned, observational style lives on.