title: Etoile (film)
text: # Etoile (film)
  
  Etoile (transl. Ballet Star) is a 1989 film starring Jennifer Connelly and Gary McCleery.
  
  ## Plot
  
  The American ballerina Claire Hamilton travels to Hungary to join a prestigious ballet school. The school is haunted by the spirit of a ballerina who died in a carriage accident, that possesses Claire.
  
  ## Cast
  
  * Jennifer Connelly as Claire Hamilton / Natalie Horvath
  * Gary McCleery as Jason Forrest
  * Laurent Terzieff as Marius Balakin
  * Olimpia Carlisi as Madam
  * Charles Durning as Uncle Joshua
  * Donald Hodson as Karl
  * Mario Marozzi
  
  ## Production
  
  Following the release of the science fiction film Julia and Julia, director Peter Del Monte followed up the film with another in the fantastique genre. The producer Achille Manzotti provided the director with a cast that included Jennifer Connelly, Gary McCleery and Charles Durning. Filming began in Budapest and Italy in 1988 under the working title of Ballerina.
  
  ## Release
  
  Etoile was distributed theatrically in Italy by Aristi Associati and released on 17 March 1989. The film was awarded the Critic's Award at the 1990 Fantasporto Film Festival in Portugal.
  
  ## Reception
  
  According to Italian critic and historian Roberto Curti, Etoile was "ravaged" by Italian critics. Maurizio Porro of Corriere della Sera stated the film appeared to resemble a remake of Dario Argento's Opera "without suspense". Porro commented that the film was "confused and not at all fascinating" declaring it Del Monte's worst film.
  
  