Watch Born To Fly

Born To Fly, directed by Catherine Gund, is a documentary film that follows the life and art of Elizabeth Streb, a world-renowned artist and extreme action choreographer. The film showcases Streb's innovative work with her dance company, STREB EXTREME ACTION, which combines dance, acrobatics, and extreme sports. The film begins by introducing Streb, her background, and her philosophy behind the art of movement. Streb explains that her approach to dance is not just about expressing emotions, but about exploring the physics and kinetics of the human body. She sees dance as a tool to push the limits of human potential and as a means of exploring the intersections between art, science, and athleticism.

The film then dives into Streb's choreography, showcasing some of her most famous and innovative pieces. The audience is taken through a journey of exploring the limits of the human body, as performers rehearse for and execute their daring stunts.

One of Streb's most famous pieces, titled "Human Fountain," involves performers jumping from a 20-foot platform and colliding with each other mid-air. The performers are then choreographed to hold onto each other and disassemble themselves into different formations before landing safely on the ground. Throughout the film, viewers are left in awe of the performers' incredible strength, agility, and fearlessness.

The film also explores Streb's personal life and the challenges she faced as a female artist in a male-dominated world. It delves into the difficulties of balancing her art with her personal life and motherhood. Furthermore, the film examines Streb's belief in the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of obstacles and how these values have helped her succeed in the art world.

As the film progresses, it addresses the controversies and criticisms that Streb and her company have faced over the years. Streb's work challenges conventional ideas of dance and raises questions about the safety of performers, particularly in high-risk performances. Despite these challenges, Streb remains firm in her belief that her work is essential to expanding the boundaries of dance and to push human limits.

The film concludes with a poignant scene of the STREB EXTREME ACTION team performing amidst the New York City skyline, where the performers jump and dive in front of a stark white backdrop, emphasizing the beauty and simplicity of Streb's work.

Overall, Born to Fly is an inspiring and thought-provoking film that showcases the power of art to challenge and inspire individuals beyond traditional boundaries. Through Streb's work and her philosophy, viewers are reminded of the importance of pushing limits, persevering through obstacles, and using art as a means of exploring the world around us.

Born To Fly is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 78.