It’s rare that a filmmaker’s debut so perfectly captures the entirety of their experience. Benjamin Millepied is best known as the renowned cinematographer of Black Swan, principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, as well as director of the Paris Opera Ballet. All of that wealth of knowledge comes together in the arresting visual beauty and poetic dance moves driving Carmen, his modern reimagining of the classic book and opera.
Led by rising stars Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal, joined by veteran actress Rossy de Palma, Carmen centers on a fleeing Mexican woman and an American soldier as they evade capture on their way to Los Angeles. The film premiered to glowing reviews in Toronto and looks to be the start of a career to keep an eye on for Millepied.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Millepied about his work on Carmen, what drove him to rethink the story in this way rather than do a faithful adaptation, and of course, working with Barrera and Mescal who are two of the hottest actors in Hollywood.
Check out my interview with Benjamin Millepied below! Carmen is in theaters now and opens in DC on May 5th!
