Director: Bruce Beresford Screenplay: Jan Sardi, based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin Cast: Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen Time: 114min Age Restriction: 10MGenre:
Drama
Summary Review:
Mao’s Last Dancer is a captivating film with exquisite dancing and acting, about finding the inner strength and discipline to pursue your dreams.
Synopsis:
Li Cunxin (Chi Cao) grew up in Communist China in the 1970′s. At the age of 11, he was “chosen” and taken from his family to become part of the first ever Chinese ballet company.
Madame Mao, wife of Mao Zedong, the dictatorial leader of the Communist Party, strove to revolutionise the country’s cultural landscape along with its political and economic landscapes. The ballet was thus meant to be an artistic representation of China’s revolt against the Western principle of capitalism.
But Li is discovered by the artistic director of an American ballet company and given the opportunity to go to America as an exchange student. Suddenly, opportunities and possibilities that he could never have imagined begin opening up to him.
Mao’s Last Dancer is an engrossing film about courage and discovering new ideas and freedoms. It is based on Li Cunxin’s autobiography of the same name.
The dancing is fantastic and the cinematography does a brilliant job of translating the contrast between Communist China and liberal America into visuals.
But nothing can steal the show away from the remarkable character of Li, around whom the entire film revolves.
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