Amazon dives into the cutthroat world of professional ballet dancing in the new film Birds of Paradise.

And with the ultimate prize at stake, does anyone really have time for love or friendship?

Check out the trailer for Birds of Paradise below.

Ok, first things first: Yes, this film will inevitably earn comparisons to Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis’ Black Swan. You can’t enter the intersection of “ballet” and “thriller” without Black Swan coming up. But as to whether Birds of Paradise will break new ground in that area, we’ll just have to wait and see. (And I guess if you want to watch a happy movie about ballet, you’d better stick to Barbie movies.)

Here’s the official synopsis from Amazon:

Kate Sanders is an ambitious and gifted, if tomboyish, aspiring ballerina from Virginia who, because of her low-income status, is given a scholarship to attend a prestigious ballet school in Paris, France. Upon arriving at the cutthroat, internationally-renowned institution, her confidence and emotional fortitude are tested by a beautiful, mysterious fellow dancer, Marine Durand, who recently lost her brother (and dance partner) to suicide. While confrontational at first, Kate and Marine’s relationship evolves into an emotionally-charged, competitive union beset by lies, sexual awakening and, ultimately, emotional breakthrough as they risk everything to win the school’s ultimate prize: a contract to join the Opéra national de Paris.

Birds of Paradise stars Diana Silvers, Kristine Froseth, and Jacqueline Bisset. The story is based on the book Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small. Sarah Adina Smith adapted it to screen and directs.

Birds of Paradise arrives on Amazon Prime Video September 24.

So, will you give this ballerina drama a chance to step into the spotlight? Let us know in the comments. Meanwhile, check back to THS for more updates.

Source: Amazon