Wisconsin farm girl Elizabeth Carlson leaves family and her English teacher lover behind and escapes to New York. There she soon makes a career for herself as a fashion model. During a vernissage she's approached by a mysterious man whose motives are unclear...
Acting
Nureyev's unhinged violinist-spy performance—truly unhinged.
Direction
Toback's obsessive male gaze turned up to eleven.
Director
James Toback
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Toback wrote the role specifically for Kinski after seeing Tess, then allegedly harassed her throughout production—art imitating garbage.
Nureyev's casting was pure 1983 energy: famous ballet dancer + vaguely European = instant cinematic terrorist.
US
