Her Head in Films
Her Head in Films
Caitlin
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'The Red Shoes' (1948)
1 hour 20 minutes Posted Feb 3, 2026 at 6:00 am.
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Show notes
In this episode, I talk about Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1948 film, "The Red Shoes." It centers on Vicky Page, a young ballet dancer whose extraordinary talent brings her into a world where art demands total devotion and where love and ambition collide.
I discuss "The Red Shoes" as a meditation on artistic calling, female ambition, and the desire for greatness. I’m interested in how the film portrays a woman who refuses to live a small life, and what happens when her boundless creative drive cannot be contained by the world around her.