Lopakhine dances on the Saclay stage
Liza Machover / Superfamilles
Encountering a work of art can mark a turning point in one’s life. These profound, unexpected, and formative encounters—which open the door to unimagined worlds—are known as aesthetic shocks. This is what happens to young Julien, the son of factory workers, who discovers breakdancing while watching *Star Academy*. At the same time, but on the other side of France, Liza decides to leave everything behind to devote herself to theater after seeing *The Cherry Orchard* by Chekhov with her class.
Alone on stage, actor Julien Moreau embodies these aesthetic shocks and gives voice to those of countless anonymous individuals. Blurring the lines between dance, theater, and documentary, he offers us a universal tale of emancipation through art.