Dancemaker (1998)

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This Oscar-nominated documentary takes viewers inside the dance company of renowned choreographer Paul Taylor in many ways. Not only does director Matthew Diamond's camera catch the intimate moments as dance director and dancer develop new steps, he manages to get inside the minds of his subjects to… More This Oscar-nominated documentary takes viewers inside the dance company of renowned choreographer Paul Taylor in many ways. Not only does director Matthew Diamond's camera catch the intimate moments as dance director and dancer develop new steps, he manages to get inside the minds of his subjects to a surprising degree. Diamond captures such triumphant moments as the troupe silently keeping perfect time when the sound goes out on its tour of India. But he also exposes unguarded moments of loss as Taylor ticks off the dancers felled by AIDS in his company or as bewildered troupe members react after Taylor unceremoniously fires a fellow dancer. The mastery of this 95-minute film lies in its portrayal of Taylor's genius without fawning over him. (For instance, after publicly berating dancers, Taylor admits he doesn't think about other people's feelings.) Rounding out the footage of Taylor and his dancers are interviews with critics and staff members and stunning black-and-white clips of Taylor's days as one of Martha Graham's featured dancers. --Kimberly Heinrichs