Dramas about ballet and ballerinas are always difficult to watch, yet we, as spectators, never seem to tire of gaining more insights into this complex and rigorous world. Thus, it’s not surprising to see “Joika,” the movie based on the world-renowned Joy Annabelle Womack, entering the Top 10 movies on Max globally.
It was about time Womack’s story was brought to the screen. She is the first American woman to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s main training program with a red diploma and the second American woman to sign a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet. This is why the film is also titled “The American,” or can be found as “The American: Joika.”
James Napier Robertson, known for the multi-award-winning 2014 documentary “The Dark Horse,” about New Zealand chess champion Genesis Potini and his chess club for underprivileged children, both wrote and directed the film.
‘Joika’ occupies the Top 5 on Max worldwide
Since premiering in January this year at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, critics have been speaking highly of “Joika,” especially about its accurate portrayal of Womack’s story and the world of ballet. Thus, it’s not surprising to see it as the No. 5 movie on Max worldwide.
Amazingly, it has managed to surpass “Mr. Deeds” in the rankings, despite this being one of Adam Sandler’s most iconic movies. Additionally, it is about to take the fourth spot from “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One,” which has been a lasting trend since being added to the catalog on January 9.
As stated earlier, “Joika” tells the real story of Joy Womack, the first American to graduate from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, the most competitive and demanding school in the world. Driven by the passion of her first love and the magnetism of Volkova, her tutor at the Bolshoi, Joy will test the limits of her dedication, determination, sacrifice, and virtuosity.
The star is played by Talia Ryder, and Tatiyana Volkova is portrayed by Diane Kruger, both delivering astonishing performances. The rest of the cast features Oleg Ivenko, Natasha Alderslade, Natalia Osipova, Charlotte Ubben, and Borys Szyc, among others.
Womack wholeheartedly approved the production and even shared some moving words about it: “If I could wish anything for people watching this film, it’s to find something you absolutely, desperately love, that gives your life meaning and that you can’t live without – and do that.”
