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The Book of Revelation (2006)

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clip Dancing without ego

Original classification rating: R. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Principal dancers Daniel (Tom Long) and Bridget (Anna Torv) rehearse for their new show, in which three men vie for the attention of one woman. Daniel’s improvisation becomes quite aggressively sexual with Bridget, his real-life partner. Choreographer Isabel (Greta Scacchi) tells them to go beyond that. Afterwards, Bridget asks Daniel to go and buy her cigarettes.

Curator’s notes

The dance rehearsal is, of course, a forecast of what is to come, with the roles reversed. Daniel will find himself in the harness, with the unwanted attentions of three women. There is also a strong suggestion of sexual tension within the group – between Daniel and Bridget, Daniel and Isabel, and Daniel and the young woman with the sore foot, who is clearly interested in him. Tom Long was not a trained dancer, but the choreography – by the renowned Meryl Tankard – is cleverly constructed in a loose style in which his athleticism is useful.

The film remains enigmatic about the causes of Daniel’s ordeal. There’s a strong suggestion here that he is unhappy with Bridget and with Isabel. Both women exercise a degree of control over him, as we can see in the way Bridget asks him to fetch cigarettes for her – like an errand boy. Does this contribute to what happens to him? We’re never told. It is more likely that it contributes to the way he falls apart later, after his assault and rape.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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