Oleg Ivenko , a professional Ukrainian ballet dancer making his acting debut

David Hare , adapted from the biography Rudolf Nureyev: The Life by Julie Kavanagh

The film utilizes three interweaving timelines to explore Nureyev's development and final choice:

The Kirov Ballet’s visit to France, where Nureyev’s desire for artistic freedom and Western culture leads to his defection at Le Bourget airport.

Depicted in desaturated tones, showing his birth on a train and his impoverished early years in the Soviet Union.

Premiered August 31, 2018 (Telluride); released March 22, 2019 (UK) and April 26, 2019 (US) Narrative Structure