CRAZY HORSE

Frederick Wiseman spent ten weeks with his camera exploring “Le Crazy Horse”, the legendary Parisian cabaret club, founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin. The film follows the rehearsals and performances for a new show, “Desir”, staged by Philippe Découflé, a celebrated French choreographer, as well as the backstage preparations of the dancers (make-up and costume fittings) and also the various issues involved in the planning of the show and the administration of the club.

I made the film for several reasons. I thought the idea was amusing, and wanted to explore the difference between cabaret and ballet. At a more abstract level, I was very interested in people’s fantasies. I don’t know whether they are conflicting or not, but there is a whole array of fantasies on display in this cabaret environment – the fantasies of the owners , the shareholders who want to make money by exhibiting the bodies of beautiful nude women; the fantasies of the audience who flock to see the show; and the fantasies of the dancers who consent to perform near-nude dance numbers and roles. (Frederick Wiseman)