Any sensible audience member would say the script for Mao's Last Dancer is just too dang melodramatic.

Unfortunately, or perhaps I might also say, fortunately - - it's a true story.

...and it's a pretty amazing one, especially considering it occurred in such recent history - - in many viewer's very own lifetime.

The epic tale of the journey from peasant to star isn't unique in the cinema, but in Bruce Beresford's sensitive hands, Mao's Last Dancer plays out as practically the Titanic of ballet movies. I for one welcomed the rare view of what life on a commune was like back in the 60's, and then the culture shock trip through the following decades to his current role as a Melbourne stockbroker..

The three actors who play Li Cunxin are all eminently convincing in the physically challenging lead role. Then the supporting actors are outstanding, especially good old Bruce Greenwood (That guy's in everything!), but also Kyle MacLachlan, and Joan Chen.

The dancing itself is filmed with a dramatic panache and the awesome sets provide the foundation from which the dancers take flight...

..."as light as a feather".


33 out of 5.

Sad to see that KJer's didn't manage to get out to enjoy this fine film by Bruce Beresford - - but luckily others have found this hidden treasure...


The strange case of "Mao's Last Dancer," a meat-and-potatoes art-house hit

It never opened at my local theatre. I'll definitely see it when it's released on DVD/Blu-ray.

Nice article, BTW. It's nice when a small movie finds its groove. Tell No One had a similar run. Though I must admit, I was sad to see two of my absolute favorite films of 2010--Never Let Me Go, Greenberg--listed side-by-side as failures to launch.