Mao's Last Dancer

Cecil says: It took over a year from this film's release before we finally got the chance to see it in the wonderfully-restored Capitol cinema in York, Pennsylvania. It was worth the wait. What a beautiful film on so many levels.

This is the story of a young boy plucked from his mountain village in the early 1970s to train among China's elite dancers. Li Cunxin ends up going to America where he stars as a 'big ballerino' in the Houston Ballet company.

The film has two stories running in parallel: his early years in China and the gruelling training of the young ballet dancer in the 1970s; and the revelations of life in America.

His own eyes are opened wide: from incredulity at the size of artistic director Ben's house: "Have you got a big family?" "No, I live alone"; to the discovery of romance and lust with fellow dancers. And America's horizons are broadened with the amazing talent of this dancer from China and all the potential of Sino-American co-operation over dance and ballet running alongside the 198os push for a thaw in relations.

Of course it all gets horribly complicated when Li gets married and wants to stay in America...

This film achieves everything that other recent ballet film (Black Swan) fails to do. The dancing is brilliant (unlike Black Swan, it actually makes me want to go to the ballet); the music terrific; the plot is engaging and you hope so strongly for a good outcome. This is cinema at its best.

*****

Bea says: I had been wanting to see this film since its release, as I knew it had strong Australian connections - Li and his second wife settled in Australia, and the film was directed by Bruce Beresford and featured a few well-known Aussie actors (eg Jack Thompson).

The film didn't disappoint. Our hosts in York, Jim and Jean, joined us for the screening and perhaps Jim summed it up best - "that was everything, it was culture, history, emotion - everything". Li's story summed up changing times in China and the Western world through the 70s, 80s and 90s and by the final scenes there was barely a dry eye in the house.

Excellent performances from the cast and a well-written and produced film - a must-see, if you can still catch it.
****1/2