History Film / WhiteNights

* SpoilerCover: The movie poster tells you that the two main characters will end up as friends who risk their lives for one another. ''"Two men. Not soldiers. Not heroes. Just dancers. Willing to risk their lives for freedom and each other."''

* DancingRoyalty: Mikhail Baryshnikov is one of the greatest male ballet dancers in history according to TheOtherWiki. Gregory Hines was no slouch either, famous for his tap dancing. Their movie characters were also famous for their dancing.

* DancingRoyalty: Mikhail Baryshnikov is one of the greatest male ballet dancers in history according to Wiki.TheOtherWiki. Gregory Hines was no slouch either, famous for his tap dancing. Their movie characters were also famous for their dancing.

* TrueArtIsAngsty: The two main characters art had something to do with their defection which led to consequent political intrigue.

* GenreShift: A tense UsefulNotes/ColdWar thriller about a defector in Soviet prison which features [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ballet ballet]], tap dancing, and feel good pop music about ThePowerOfFriendship by Music/PhilCollins and Music/LionelRichie.

Isabella Rossellini plays Raymond's devoted Russian wife, Darya Greenwood. [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]] plays Nikolai's former love interest, whom he abandoned, but now holds influence over him and Soviet organizations. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford. During the 58th Oscar Awards, the film won [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestOriginalSong Best Original Song]] for "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, as well as "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and written by Stephen Bishop (also nominated). [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheEighties The 80's]] setting is an important aspect of the film, since much of the drama is fueled by the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War]].

* DancingRoyalty: Mikhail Baryshnikov is one of the greatest male ballet dancers in history. Gregory Hines was no slouch either, famous for his tap dancing. Their movie characters were also famous for their dancing.

White Knights is a 1985 thriller starring Gregory Hines, [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]], Isabella Rossellini, and top Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. White Nights is too much a thriller to be considered a musical, but the film's major draws are musical, Lionel Richie's music and the dancing of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Film critics who did not like the film, such as Roger Ebert, still thought the film worth watching for the dance scenes alone.

* GenreShift: A tense Cold War thriller about a defector in Soviet prison which features ballet, tap dancing, and feel good pop music about The Power of Friendship by Phil Collins and Lionel Richie.

* ''[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Improv Improv]] Dancing'': In-universe the characters are dancing during dialog while making a point, not as part of a production.

* ThePowerOfFriendship: Built into the movie poster, and the lyrics of the award winning theme song, ''"Say You, Say Me"''.

* FireForgedFriends: The tap dancer and ballet dancer are set up as antagonists, yet bond through dancing and become allies. This doesn't seem like a spoiler since it is right on the movie poster, '''"Two men. Not soldiers. Not heroes. Just dancers. Willing to risk their lives for freedom and each other."'''

* SpoilerCover: The movie poster tells you that the two main characters will end up as friends who risk their lives for one another. '''"Two men. Not soldiers. Not heroes. Just dancers. Willing to risk their lives for freedom and each other."'''

* TrueArtIsAngsty: The two main characters art had something to do with their defection which led to consequent political intrigue.

* PsychologicalThriller: Although the film has thrilling action, the focus is on the characters and their dilemmas.

* ThePowerOfFriendship: Built into the movie poster, and the lyrics of the award winning theme song, ''"Say You, Say Me"''.

* FireForgedFriends: The tap dance and ballet dancer are set up as antagonists, yet bond through dancing and become allies. This doesn't seem like a spoiler since it is right on the movie poster, '''"Two men. Not soldiers. Not heroes. Just dancers. Willing to risk their lives for freedom and each other."'''

* AsHimself: But the star of the film, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and the character he plays in the film are incredibly successful Russian male ballet dancers who defected to the West.

Mikhail Baryshnikov plays a character name Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko, who like himself in real-life, was one of the Soviet Union's top ballet dancers who defected to the west. Nikolai is recaptured by the Soviet Union when his flight crashes in Siberia. There he meets an American dancer who defected to the Soviet Union, a character named Raymond Greenwood (played by Gregory Hines) who is supposed to help rehabilitate Nikolai. Soviet leaders attempt to reform and punish Nikolai for his defection. Nikolai wants to escape the Soviet Union again and seeks allies. While left together, Nikolai and Raymond dance during their dramatic dialog and exposition, expressing angst while in the midst of dangerous political intrigue.

White Knights is a 1985 thriller starring Gregory Hines, [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]], Isabella Rossellini, and top Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. White Nights is too much a thriller to be considered a musical. But film's main draw are the dance scenes betwween Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Film critics who did not like the film, such as Roger Ebert, still thought the film worth watching for the dance scenes alone.

* PopStarComposer: This is the movie where Music/LionelRichie won his Oscar for "Say You, Say Me".
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Built into the movie poster, and the lyrics of the award winning theme song, "Say You, Say Me".

* DancingIsSeriousBusiness: Nikolai and Raymond dance while discussing their conflicts, angst, and exposition, while in the midst of tense political intrigue situation.

* ColdWar: This film's drama only makes sense when remembering the Cold War's intense Soviet and USA rivalry.

Mikhail Baryshnikov plays a character name Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko, who like himself in real-life, was a top ballet dancers for the Soviet Union who defected to the west. Nikolai is recapture by the Soviet Union when his flight crashes in Siberia. There he meets an American dancer who defected to the Soviet Union, a character named Raymond Greenwood (played by Gregory Hines) who is supposed to help rehabilitate Nikolai. Soviet leaders attempt to reform and punish Nikolai for his defection. Nikolai wants to escape the Soviet Union again and seeks allies. While left together, Nikolai and Raymond tend to dance during their dramatic dialog and exposition.


Isabella Rossellini plays Raymond's devoted Russian wife. [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]] plays one of Nikolai's former love interest, whom he abandoned, but who now holds influence with the KBG. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford. During the 58th Oscar Awards, the film won [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestOriginalSong Best Original Song]] for "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, as well as "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and written by Stephen Bishop (also nominated). [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheEighties The 80's]] setting is an important aspect of the film, since much of the drama is fueled by the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War]].

* TrueArtIsAngsty: The two main characters art had something to do with their defection and consequent political intrigue.

* PsychologicalThriller: Although the film has thrilling action, the focus is on the characters and their dilemma's.

* DancingIsSeriousBusiness: Nikolai and Raymond dancing is another way these characters express themselves in-universe, so the film doesn't have a musical's altered reality.

* FlushTheEvidence: Famous defector Nikolai tries to hide his identity by flushing his passport down the airplane toilet as the plane crashes in Soviet territory.

* MoscowCentre: The USSR's dreaded KGB of the Cold War era is not happy with ballet dancers who defect and make the Soviet Union look bad.

* PsychologicalThriller: Although the film has thrilling action, the focus is on the characters and their dilemma's.

* FilmsOfThe1980s: This films only makes sense when remembering the intense Soviet and USA rivalry of the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War]].

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Mikhail Baryshnikov plays a character name Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko, who like himself in real-life, was a top ballet dancers for the Soviet Union who defected to the west. Nikolai is recapture by the Soviet Union when his flight crashes in Siberia. There he meets an American dancer who defected to the Soviet Union, a character named Raymond Greenwood (played by Gregory Hines) who is supposed to help rehabilitate Nikolai. Soviet leaders attempt to reform and punish Nikolai for his defection. Nikolai wants to escape the Soviet Union again and seeks allies. While left together, Nikolai and Raymond tend to dance during their dramatic dialog and exposition. Their dancing is another way these characters express themselves in-universe, so the film doesn't have a musical's altered reality.
\\
Isabella Rossellini plays Raymond's devoted Russian wife. [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]] plays one of Nikolai's former love interest, whom he abandoned, but who now holds influence with the KBG. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford. During 1986, the film won the Best Original Song Oscar for "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, as well as "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and written by Stephen Bishop (also nominated). [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheEighties The 80's]] setting is an important aspect of the film, since most of the drams is fueled by the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War]].

White Knights is a 1985 thriller starring Gregory Hines, [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]], Isabella Rossellini, and top Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. White Nights is too much a thriller to be considered a musical. But the main draw of the film are the dance scenes of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Film critics who did not like the film, like Roger Ebert, still thought the film worth watching for the dance scenes.
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Mikhail Baryshnikov plays a character name Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko, who like himself in real-life, was a top ballet dancers for the Soviet Union who defected to the west. Nikolai is recapture by the Soviet Union when his flight crashes in Siberia. There he meets an American dancer who defected to the Soviet Union, a character named Raymond Greenwood (played by Gregory Hines) who is supposed to help rehabilitate Nikolai. Soviet leaders attempt to reform and punish Nikolai for his defection. Nikolai wants to escape the Soviet Union again and seeks allies. While left together, Nikolai and Raymond tend to dance during their dramatic dialog and exposition. Their dancing is another way these characters express themselves in-universe, so the film doesn't have a musical's altered reality.

Isabella Rossellini plays Raymond's devoted Russian wife. [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HelenMirren Helen Mirren]] plays one of Nikolai's former love interest, whom he abandoned, but who now holds influence with the KBG. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford. During 1986, the film won the Best Original Song Oscar for "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, as well as "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and written by Stephen Bishop (also nominated).