Ballerina

Keighley Picture House

WITH a running jump and a twirl, this will be a special moment to treasure.

No, not a scene from the film, but my two-year-old daughter flinging herself across the car park to imitate her new-found idol, rags-to-riches pirouetting prodigy Félicie Milliner, the heroine of the piece in this animated movie magic.

It was the first film she has ever watched at a cinema, and I have high hopes it will be one that will hold a special place in her heart as she grows older, as it will in mine.

An orphan girl (Félicie, voiced by Elle Fanning) dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany orphanage 'prison' for Paris with the help of best friend and eccentric young inventor Victor (Dane DeHaan). Here she passes herself off for the evil offspring (Camille, Maddie Ziegler) of an equally vile and sinister rich woman and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera House, with the help of tuition from broken ballerina Odette (Carly Rae Jepsen).

Unrealistic? Absolutely. But if I wanted reality, I'd watch the news.

Will Félicie overcome her humble beginnings in life to dance the Nutcracker on the greatest dance stage in the world? Well, you'll just have to watch to see.

None of the slushy Disney sentiment here or over-egged song segments, and Ballerina is all the better for it.

Rich and sumptuous in its production style, it reminds me of Ratatouille for its humour and honesty. Plié perfection!

* Ballerina is screened at Keighley Picture House on January 7 at 2.40pm. Check listings as it may be repeated here and at Skipton Plaza next weekend.