Margot

One of Palmer's great classical portraits, here is a doc brimming with the stuff of fiction -  talent, courage, sex and scandal - in the true rise and fall of legendary English ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Naturally there's superb archival film of Fonteyn, including performances in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle. But Palmer demonstrates an ability to extract new meaning from these selections as he integrates new original scenes, including interviews with fellow dancers, partners and others who knew and loved her. Fonteyn's scandalous off-stage life was under constant scrutiny. She was once held for questioning in a Panama City prison on suspicion of taking part in a coup attempt. Two years later, at the age of 42, Margot's electrifying partnership with Russian defector Rudolf Nureyev (then 24) caused even more gossip. The film is ultimately a testament to a true artist, one who tragically descended into obscurity and poverty. (Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival)