Elina (2018)

Elina is a period drama that follows the principle ballerina of a Russian dance company, on tour in 1960s America, who is trying to decide whether or not to defect. It tells the story of driven and pragmatic Elina, prized possession of manipulative and abusive choreographer Sergei. During one particular performance, Elina is faced with the opportunity to defect with her sister-figure Natalia, in order to escape Sergei and find respite from the Soviet Union. However, Elina remains torn between her devotion to dance and her desire to find freedom from her choreographer and country. This film is based off of the true stories of many ballerinas who, despite having been taken away from their families by Russian ballet companies at very young ages, left everything they ever knew to escape the Soviet Union.