Review: Pointe – Return performance

Directed by Dawn Jackson
Starring Floeur Alder, Alan Alder, Lucette Aldous 

6.5/10

“The healing was not only about my incident, it was about my childhood, my parents, my whole life.” – Floeur Alder

Surviving a violent knife attack has left scars on Floeur Alder. Not merely the physical trauma that meant she must relearn how to use her muscles again, nor the hurdle this was to the then 22-year-old dancer’s blossoming career, but the resulting psychological trauma of such a senseless act. Pointe acts as a study of PTSD and the long-term efforts to overcome its effects.

A remarkable story of resilience and recovery, Pointe manages to cover a lot of ground in its run time. Over the course of its tale, we not only manage to cover the horrific attack experienced by Floeur but also get a fascinating glimpse at her “ballet royalty” family. As such, the documentary not only acts as a quick potted history of ballet in Australia but also lends insight to the family dynamics that shaped Floeur’s dreams and how that changed after the attack. Finally, the documentary charts a remarkable voyage of facing trauma, both physical and psychological.

All this is achieved through an exhaustive amount of footage, both through interviews, a “fly on the wall” perspective, and archival dives. Although the presentation does little to break from a standard documentarian mould, it deliberately takes the back seat, allowing the story to take centre stage.

Having said that, Pointe represents a comprehensive amount of work from director Dawn Jackson on a story she’s followed for decades. Her personal connection (and knowledge of the profession) allows keen insight and close access across almost a decade. The result is a voyage through dance and recovery that’s ultimately uplifting and poignant.

DAVID O’CONNELL