Finding community in the arts: Swan Song and This Is Going to Be Big

It’s not uniquely human to yearn for community – we see it across the animal kingdom. Yet connections built through art are distinctive to us. That search for the ephemeral point of exaltation between audience, performer and the crew is a common theme in two films at this year’s festival: the ballet documentary Swan Song and the quirky coming-of-age film This Is Going to Be Big. 

Chelsea McMullan’s Swan Song follows Karen Kain in the twilight of an illustrious career as principal dancer and artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada. Determined to cement her legacy, Kain oversees an ambitious and revolutionary version of one of the world’s most famous ballets: Swan Lake. It’s a risky venture, but one that Kain will not undertake alone – the production’s success poses a career-defining moment for all involved. 

Kain is determined that this version of Swan Lake will be the passing of the torch from her to the next generation of dancers, and Swan Song takes us right into the heady mix of things. We join her, the dancers and crew through broken bodies and fragile spirits, self-doubt and determination, to bring to fruition a collective dream for the future of their art.

No holds-barred immersion brings deep insights into the individual and collective battles the production faces. What does it mean to be a ballet dancer in the 21st century? Swan Song examines how ballet’s survival is contingent on its ability to adapt. Confronting the darker side of ballet – including its exclusivity in regards to race and class – the film documents the small but vital steps being made to show that ballet can be for anyone and everyone.

McMullan provides intimate access to the lives of the film’s contributors, revealing poignant revelations of how ballet has literally saved lives. As we draw closer to opening night, the anticipation is palpable, but the rewards? I left the film with goosebumps – elated and exhausted like the dancers on screen.

In Thomas Charles Hyland’s whimsical rites-of-passage story This Is Going to Be Big, neurodiverse teens discover how the performing arts can offer a sense of community. Chelsea, Elyse, Halle and Josh are four aspiring teenagers who audition, rehearse and perform in their school’s time-bending musical about Australia’s favourite son, singer John Farnham. 

Wonderful moments at home and at school are captured on camera as friendships are formed and battles are overcome, leading to a profound performance that will impact these teens’ lives forever. Because this musical is about more than just having fun: it’s about creating an environment that allows young people – some of whom have only really experienced isolation and loneliness – to find community and acceptance. A joyous closing message proclaims the endless possibilities for these kids.