Ailey
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJamila Wignot
Produced by
  • Jamila Wignot
  • Lauren DeFilippo
CinematographyNaiti Gámez
Edited byAnnukka Lilja
Music byDaniel Bernard Roumain
Production
companies
Distributed byNeon
Release dates
  • January 30, 2021 (2021-01-30) (Sundance)
  • July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$214,328[2][3]

Ailey is an 2021 American documentary film, directed by Jamila Wignot, which follows the life of dancer Alvin Ailey.

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021. It was released on July 23, 2021, by Neon.

Synopsis

The film follows the life of dancer Alvin Ailey.

Production

In 2017, Jamila Wignot was approached by Insignia Films to direct a documentary about Alvin Ailey after discovering American Masters had not produced a documentary film revolving around his life, and that no film biographies about Ailey existed.[4] Production on the film began in Summer 2018, and concluded in October 2019.[5] Wingot also incorporated audio recordings made by Ailey, for an autobiography he was collaborating on with A. Peter Bailey, feeling it was important to have the story told from his voice.[6][7]

Wignot wanted to include apart from Ailey's life and career, a contemporary element to the film by filming rehearsals of Lazarus by the Alvin Ailey Dance Company to show Ailey's impact and leverage for the next generation of artists.[8]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021.[9][10] Shortly after, Neon acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[11] It was released on July 23, 2021.[12] It was broadcast on American Masters on PBS on January 11, 2022.[13]

Critical reception

Ailey received positive reviews from film critics. It holds a 90% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 80 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.60/10. The critics consensus reads "Ailey pays invigorating tribute to its subject's brilliant legacy -- and offers a tantalizing introduction to the rest of a fascinating story."[14] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 77 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

Jonita Davis of The Black Cape said the film "works to chronicle the rise off a legend while also documenting the hardships of performing in the US from the 1950s onward."[16] Gia Kourlas of The New York Times gave the film a positive review writing: "Wignot layers images, video and - most important - voice-overs from Ailey to create a portrait that feels as poetic and nuanced as choreography itself."[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Ailey". iTunes. 22 July 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ailey (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Ailey (2021)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ Mullen, Pat (January 30, 2021). "Watching Freedom on the Stage: Jamila Wignot Talks 'Ailey'". POV Magazine. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ↑ Astle, Randy (February 1, 2021). ""We Needed a Visual Approach that Would Match the Poetry of Mr. Ailey's Words": Jamila Wignot on Ailey". Filmmaker. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ Ring, Trudy (July 22, 2021). "Ailey Profiles the Enigmatic, Brilliant Dance Master Alvin Ailey". Advocate. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ Ring, Trudy (July 23, 2021). "Jamila Wignot's Documentary Film Ailey". Dance Enthusiast. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ Baloue, Sydney (July 22, 2021). "Ailey Director Jamila Wignot on Capturing the Black, Gay Modern Dance Icon's Full Legacy". Them.us. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ Debruge, Peter (December 15, 2020). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Features 38 First-Time Directors, Including Rebecca Hall and Robin Wright". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Ailey". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2021). "NEON Acquires Jamila Wignot's Documentary 'Ailey' – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Ailey". Neon. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  13. ↑ "American Masters Explores the Life and Impact of Visionary Choreographer and Dancer Alvin Ailey". The Futon Critic. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Ailey". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ailey". Metacritic. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  16. ↑ "5 of My Documentary Picks from Sundance 2021 by Jonita Davis". 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  17. ↑ Kourlas, Gia (July 22, 2021). "'Ailey' Review: A Poetic Look at the Man Behind the Dances". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
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