With every ballet film, the story plot seems the same with competition and a large finale. With Amazon’s Birds of Paradise, director Sarah Adina Smith seeks out a different story that takes audiences in a whirlwind character development.

Based on the book Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small, the film follows two young women as their relationship evolves from beginning to end in competition for the one spot in the ballerina troupe.

Here’s the full synopsis for Birds of Paradise:

Kate Sanders is an ambitious and gifted, if tomboyish, aspiring ballerina from Virginia who, because of her low-income status, is given the 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 Opera national de Paris.

The film stars Diana Silvers, Kristine Froseth, and Jacqueline Bissett. Sarah Adina Smith directed and wrote the adapted screenplay.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Kristine Froseth and Diana Silvers Share Dancing Experience for Amazon’s Birds of Paradise [Exclusive Interview]

LRM Online’s Gig Patta talked with the director and writer Sarah Adina Smith on this dance drama.

In 2014, Sarah Adina Smith made her directorial feature film debut with The Midnight Swim, a mystery drama of a woman’s disappearance. She followed up with another mystery drama Buster’s Mal Heart that stars Rami Malek. Also, she has television directing credits with episodes in Wrecked, Room 104, Legion, Hanna, and Looking for Alaska.

Birds of Paradise is currently streaming on Prime Video today.

Watch the exclusive interview with Sarah Adina Smith below. Let us know what you think of it.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive, Amazon Studios