Birds of Paradise (2021 film)

Birds of Paradise is a 2021 American drama film directed by Sarah Adina Smith, based on the 2019 novel Bright Burning Stars by A. K. Small. The film stars Diana Silvers and Kristine Froseth as two roommates and ballet dancers at an elite Parisian ballet academy whose friendship is tested as they compete for a coveted spot in the company.

The plot centers around Kate Sanders (Silvers), an ambitious American dancer who joins the academy seeking to prove herself, and Marine Elise Durand (Froseth), a talented and enigmatic French dancer haunted by personal tragedy. Their intense rivalry escalates throughout the film, leading them to confront difficult choices about their ambitions, their friendship, and their understanding of themselves.

The film explores themes of ambition, obsession, grief, and the pressures faced by young dancers in a highly competitive environment. It features a score composed by Oliver Coates and incorporates elements of classical ballet and contemporary dance. Birds of Paradise was released on Amazon Prime Video on September 24, 2021.