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Sally Potter, Pablo Veron, Gustavo Naveira, Fabian Salas, David Toole ... see more see more... , Carolina Iotti , Carlos Copello , Peter Eyre , Heathcote Williams , Géraldine Maillet , Katerina Mechera , Claudine Mavros , George Yiasoumi , Matthew Hawkins , Michele Parent , Monique Couturier , Morgane Maugran

Maverick filmmaker Sally Potter, who won acclaim in 1993 with the gender-bending, history-warping Orlando, returns to her dancing roots with The Tango Lesson. Potter wrote, directed, and starred in th... read more read more...e film, also assembling the soundtrack, dancing, and even singing the film's final song. Potter was trained as a dancer in London in the 1970s before turning to film. Here, she plays Sally, a character who is essentially herself. Sally is a screenwriter suffering from writer's block and dissatisfaction with her own project, a murder mystery movie called Rage which focuses on the fashion industry. To take a break, she travels to Paris, where she sees the dancer Pablo Veron perform the tango. She becomes obsessed with the dance and offers Veron a part in her film in exchange for lessons. The two become deeply involved as dancers and as lovers, and their emotional intimacy threatens the success of their dancing together. The film is shot mostly in black and white, except for some dream sequences in which Sally fantasizes about her film project. Veron performs many modern dance numbers, including tap and ballroom dancing, as part of his tango repertoire. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

4,197 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

19 critics

PG, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Sally Potter

Release Date: November 14, 1997

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DVD Release Date: June 9, 1998

Stats: 178 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (178)

  • ythelastman89
    April 14, 2010
    ythelastman89
    If I wanted to watch a movie stemmed from the likes of Dirty Dancing, I'd just watch Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. At least then I would felt like I had been watching a film. This is just one big dance lesson with a stereotypical shy Jewish woman and her Chilean lover. In no way ... read moreis it entertaining or even the slightest bit interesting, it's probably one of the hardest movies to watch because it's so bland and downright idiotic. The film within a film idea is done horribly and constantly confusing for no reason. Just because you want to break the average narrative doesn't mean you need to do something like this. There's many more brave and rewarding films out there.
  • stormyblueeyez
    August 30, 2007
    stormyblueeyez
    This movie just gets me hot. It's beautiful, exotic...and has incredible choreography. I've taken Tango and it's sooooo sensual and sexy.
  • mtoothman
    April 10, 2007
    mtoothman
    I like this movie more than the critics did. The director plays a director doing a movie about the tango. Dance sequences reflect the eroticism of the dance and their stormy relationship.

View All The Tango Lesson Reviews

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 1, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Continues Sally Potter's exploration of the sexual politics involved in creative expression. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Most of the film had Potter and Veron dancing and that had me jumping with joy. Full Review

Peter Henne
January 1, 2000
Peter Henne, Film Journal International

Even though it's self-conscious of its own sentimentality, it's surprisingly infectious. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

David Rooney
March 19, 2009
David Rooney, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

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April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

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Jack Mathews
February 14, 2001
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times

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Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

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Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

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