John Curry revolutionized male figure skating, fusing balletic grace with astounding athletic prowess. The night he won Olympic gold in 1976, he became the first openly gay skater in the sport, coming out when homosexual acts were still illegal in his native England. With a treasure trove of archival footage and access to his intimate letters, The Ice King is a moving and deep portrait of this complex, driven perfectionist. Growing up in working-class Birmingham, Curry’s father forbade him to pursue ballet, but skating was acceptable because it was a sport. Curry reinvented it and created a theater company on ice, bringing his elaborate stage shows to the West End and Broadway. Yet, subject to deep depressions, Curry’s search for artistic perfection often left him isolated and lonely. Director James Erskine’s nuanced portrait does full justice to this courageous, remarkable man.

Choreographer Nathan Birch