Mao's Last Dancer (2010)

This is How Movies Should Be Made

Such a frustrating disappointment

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

impressive. for to remind the essence of a totalitarian regime. for the importance of chance and hope and force of happiness. for the dance scenes and for the tension of hunt. for realism of different forms of crisis . for the impact between a closed society and freedom.it is not an original subject but this does it useful. because, the passion for ballet, the opportunity to leave the village. the choice of free world are little more than clichés or crumbs from the American dream but parts of a struggle for define yourself. Li Cunxin by Chi Cao is not a hero. only a survivor with dark sides, fears and doubts, not ignoring his fatherland tradition, interested to use the chances and to use his gift. Mao's Last Dancer is only a story. like many others. dramatic, emotionally, impressive. for the wise manner to mix politic and love and passion and the help of the others in a kind of crusade who has everyone as part.

Beautiful dancing by the lead and by the two prima ballerinas displayed, one of whom the lead married. That's what the film is really about --- including the revolutionary ballet commissioned by Madame Mao and applauded by her. It also shows the rigorous training of the boys (and girls) for many hours per day with little let-up. Cunxin last saw his parents when he was 11, and then not again until he was in his late 20s. Teacher Chan, who was keen on traditional French-style ballet, got the boot and was sent into the hinterland, while the keen Maoist teacher led the college into revolutionary dance with guns. Cunxin was mistaken for a keen Maoist and actually allowed on to an intern program at Houston Ballet for three months. A real babe (who was not much of a dancer compared to him) attracted him into her honeypot and they married and set-off an international diplomatic incident as the consulate attempted to seize him and send him back to Communist heaven. After he was released Cunxin's marriage fella apart, he went on to stardom, married his new Australian prima ballerina partner and moved to Australia, hence the Australian movie by Bruce Beresford. It's quite a life. I thought the movie was spoiled by Bruce Greenwood mincing around with his over- pretty face and ridiculous fur overcoat with massive flaps, but that's just me, I suppose. Recommended.

Mao's last dancer is a film based on a true story, the story of a regular boy in China that gets chosen to dance ballet. He doesn't like it in the start, but eventually he turns into a total star.The main character,Li Cunxin is played magnificently by three dancers/actors; these are Wen Bing Huang, who plays Li as a child(he is a very flexible kid and pretty much a look alike to the real Li when he was a boy),Chengwu Guo, as Li adolescent(he is not as handsome as when he is an adult but that's hardly a problem)and Chi Cao plays the part as an adult(he is first dancer in an English Company)he danced so well!They showed quite a bit of dance which was good. The Rite of spring wasn't a very good choreography but the dancing of course was great. I am a dancer and I can assure you I wanted to dance like Li by the end of the film.Please go and enjoy the film with all your family.

What can I say about this movie that other reviewers have not already said? I went to this movie because I'll go to any movie that incorporates ballet. Yes, the dancing was top notch; however the movie was so great on so many levels that I wish I had talked my non-ballet-liking husband into going with me. It is a very human story encompassing many of the international changes that took place over the last half of the 20th century and people caught up in them. Although close to two hours long, the time flies by and this was barely enough time within which to tell the story. Now I'll have to read the book.In the US the movie seems to be playing only in little "art theaters". Too bad, because it is a blockbuster of a film.