Very Cool!!!

Sadly Over-hyped

Really Surprised!

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

I hadn't seen this movie in 20 plus years and had forgotten most of it except that I'd really liked it. I enjoyed it in my rewatch too, a unique story, worth checking out for the opening dance number with Mikhail Baryshnikov if nothing else. Its incredible, showcasing a true athlete. Gregory Hines is pretty great too, tap dancing and singing, the two together are fantastic.White Nights is from the mid 80's and except for some cheesy music stands up well. Baryshnikov plays a touring ballet dancer who, after defecting to America years earlier finds himself back in Russia when the plane he's travelling on is forced to make a crash landing in Siberia. Trapped in the country he'd once escaped, 'Nicolai' is taken to stay with American (Gregory Hines) who himself defected during the Vietnam war. Together they dance and plot an escape.This role must have been written exclusively for Baryshnikov because I can't think that anyone else could have done it. Isabella Rossellini plays Hines' Russian wife. Her character is well acted but a bit of a twit. If I was making a run for the American embassy and my life was on the line I would not be wearing a bright red sweater, especially during white nights when the sun doesn't set. We also get an appearance from a very young Helen Mirren as Nicolai's former love that he left behind when he defected. Worth checking out for views of the old soviet union, fantastic dance sequences.A couple songs from Phil Collins on the soundtrack and some other bad 80s music is used

I'm in shock over the low rating "White Nights" (1985) has on IMDb. I don't know why, unless some people hear the word ballet and go running.Taylor Hackford directed this excellent film, which stars Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Isabella Rossellini, Geraldine Page, and Jerzy Skolimowski. It was filmed in Finland, England, Portugal, Scotland, with exterior Russian footage. Hackford wanted to get the specific lighting of the "white nights," the midnight sun, and found the closest to be Finland.The story concerns a brilliant dancer, Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Baryshnikov) who boards a plane with his manager (Page) bound for Japan. During the flight, a technical problem develops and the pilot announces the plane has to land in Siberia. Nikolai, a defector, rips up his passport in an attempt to hide his identity, but it's no use. He is sent to a Russian hospital to recover from a head wound, and needless to say, they have no intention of letting him go. In fact, they want him to dance at the Kirov again.Nikolai is ultimately housed with an American performer, Raymond (Gregory Hines) and his Russian wife (Rossellini). Raymond, a Vietnam deserter, left the U.S. for Russia where he thought people were treated more equally (yeah, badly). The relationship between the two men is antagonistic at first but a friendship develops as they plot to escape from the oppressive society.The star of the film, of course, is the incredible dancing, choreographed by Roland Petit, Twyla Tharp, Baryshnikov, and Hines - modern, ballet, and tap, the highlight being Raymond's and Nikolai's dual dance. In the beginning, Hines does a scene from Porgy and Bess and sings and dances to "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" - terrific.Add to this a fantastic soundtrack that includes "Separate Lives" and "Say You, Say Me," and the stunning Helen Mirren - I don't know what else anyone would want. Suspenseful, thrilling, and well acted, White Nights is a must-see, a political story about friendship and freedom.

Somehow I missed this movie when it was originally in the theaters. A few years ago on a sleepless night it was playing on one of the retro channels and I got all excited about the dance scenes and went on a hunt to find the DVD. I found it and now I watch it from time to time if I want to watch real good dancing.I have never been to the Soviet Union, so I cannot really judge how authentic the situation portrayed was. I know that the Russians adore ballet and their dancers and that they might have been very unhappy to lose such a talent. The treatment of the American dancer seems pretty accurate to me . I had a relative , a scientist, who decided to emigrate into a Communist country and I think he regretted that move for the rest of his life.I think it is an interesting and entertaining movie and I certainly love the dance scenes. For me the strongest dance number is the one in the beautiful Kirov theater with the Russian music. I have seen it so many times and cannot get enough of it. It is beyond words, it is pure perfect dance. And Mikhail Barychnikov is a gifted man. He does not need costumes or a great backdrop, he can say it all with his body.

Nikolai Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the best ballet dancers) is a famous ballet dancer who tours around the world with his company. While traveling to Japan for a presentation, the plane crashes down and they are forced to land on the USSR. Nikolai had defected the Soviet Union 8 years ago, so he is captured by the KGB. The Soviets want him back to the Kirov Ballet... but all he wishes is to scape. When I first saw this movie, I was 12 years old and I enjoyed it very much. Filmed in the USSR during the Cold War, this movie has a good story, script, direction and the performances are superb. Most of all, the dance sequences were Nikolai and his fellow American dance partner Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines, another talented dancer) are rehearsing. Also, the most impressive scene is when Nikolai dances in the Kirov Theatre, in front of his ex-girlfriend Galina Ivanona (Helen Mirren, in yet another great performance). If you enjoy watching dance movies, or looking for a good drama story, get "White Nights". You won't regret it :)