Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov) is a Soviet defector ballet star. During a flight from Tokyo, the plane is forced to land in Siberia. The injured Kolya is taken by KGB Colonel Chaiko to dance once again for the Soviet Union. Former American Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines) becomes his minder and dance motivator. Raymond is a defector and performer who is married to Russian girl Darya (Isabella Rossellini). Galina Ivanova (Helen Mirren) is Kolya's former partner and old flame. Kolya wants to escape but he has to determine if Raymond is a friend or foe.

The chemistry between Baryshnikov and Hines is great. Baryshnikov is not necessarily a good actor but he doesn't need to be great in this. Their clashing styles of dance is fun and thrilling. The escape isn't anything great but there are locations in Leningrad. This is an old style communist espionage thriller in the ever-changing new era of détente.

White Nights is helped greatly by the Phil Collins title track and the dancing between the leads although the basic storyline is both intriguing and silly.

A Russian ballet dancer (Baryshnikov) turned defector finds his Tokyo bound plane has crash landed suddenly in the Soviet Union and the KGB are in no mood to forget his lack of patriotism.

The KGB get Baryshnikov to live with a black American defector (Gregory Hines) but amidst some verbal sparring they both decide to escape. Helen Mirren plays a former love interest of Baryshnikov who feels betrayed by him.

The latter part of the film is a cliché spy film plot as our protagonists try to escape the Russians. However the film is an excuse to see Baryshnikov in his pomp doing what he was known for best. Ballet Dancing as well as busting some moves with Hines, himself a noted Jazz/Tap dancer.

Both actors were underutilised by Hollywood for their dancing skills and although the plot is basic (Hines reason to leave America looks a tad weak) both actors play well against each other, ably supported by Mirren and Rossellini. The film is kitschy fun with a dated 80s style.

I'm in shock over the low rating "White Nights" (1985) has on IMDb. I don't know why, unless some people hear the word ballet and go running.

Taylor Hackford directed this excellent film, which stars Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Isabella Rossellini, Geraldine Page, and Jerzy Skolimowski. It was filmed in Finland, England, Portugal, Scotland, with exterior Russian footage. Hackford wanted to get the specific lighting of the "white nights," the midnight sun, and found the closest to be Finland.

The story concerns a brilliant dancer, Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Baryshnikov) who boards a plane with his manager (Page) bound for Japan. During the flight, a technical problem develops and the pilot announces the plane has to land in Siberia. Nikolai, a defector, rips up his passport in an attempt to hide his identity, but it's no use.

He is sent to a Russian hospital to recover from a head wound, and needless to say, they have no intention of letting him go. In fact, they want him to dance at the Kirov again.

Nikolai is ultimately housed with an American performer, Raymond (Gregory Hines) and his Russian wife (Rossellini). Raymond, a Vietnam deserter, left the U.S. for Russia where he thought people were treated more equally (yeah, badly). The relationship between the two men is antagonistic at first but a friendship develops as they plot to escape from the oppressive society.

The star of the film, of course, is the incredible dancing, choreographed by Roland Petit, Twyla Tharp, Baryshnikov, and Hines - modern, ballet, and tap, the highlight being Raymond's and Nikolai's dual dance. In the beginning, Hines does a scene from Porgy and Bess and sings and dances to "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" - terrific.

Add to this a fantastic soundtrack that includes "Separate Lives" and "Say You, Say Me," and the stunning Helen Mirren - I don't know what else anyone would want. Suspenseful, thrilling, and well acted, White Nights is a must-see, a political story about friendship and freedom.