The Tango Lesson

by Sally Potter

SP - a female film-maker - is struggling with the writing of her new film. Growing more and more dissatisfied with what she is creating, she gradually abandons herself to the physical world of the tango. She places herself under the tutelage of Pablo, an Argentinian tango dancer living and performing in Paris. As the lessons proceed, they fall in love and strike a bargain - if he will make her into a tango dancer, she will make him into a movie star. He accomplishes his side of the bargain when they perform in public, but her attempt to make a film with Pablo in Buenos Aires exposes the complexities at the heart of the tango - how do you follow when your instinct is to lead? The Tango Lesson takes the form of the `40s Hollywood musical and transforms it with a post-modern consciousness. The screenplay is accompanied by Sally Potter's recollections of her first attempts at dancing the tango, as well as some of the notes which guided her creation of the film

106 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Sally Potter is an English film director and screenwriter.