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Parents' Guide to

The Turning Point

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Well-acted '70s dance drama has sex, mature themes.

Movie PG 1977 119 minutes
The Turning Point Poster Image

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a touching story about youth and age, regret, jealousy, art, and the choices people make, portraying each of those with great clarity, humor, and insight. Herbert Ross' directorial style can be a bit obvious -- people are always showing up at doorways just as something is about to happen, and a certain amount of gay dancer clichés and Russian machismo substitute for character study. But the masterful Anne Bancroft embodies the glory of great artistry and fame at the same time that she shows the pain her character's success has cost her. In one throwaway glance, she conveys all the future anguish and ecstasy she knows is ahead for the young dancer she is mentoring. If for nothing else, this record of Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing in his prime makes it more than worthwhile. The movie earned 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but didn't win any.

Movie Details

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