Since its debut in July of 1975, 'A Chorus Line' has entertained and enthralled audiences with its realistic approach to life's struggles and opportunities. Taken from an actual conversation with the show's original cast, a group of professional dancers, the musical tells each of their stories, building emotion and excitement through its raw and uncensored approach. After closing in 1990, it took more than sixteen years before a revival was planned. The announcement generated a frenzy as dancers from all over the world hoped to be part of the self-inducing characters; all of which prompted the creation of Every Little Step, an intense and exciting documentary that chronicles the auditioning process that is depicted in the actual stage-show.
While many films have attempted to capture the intensity of an audition, none have been given enough access to fully translate the events leading up to a casting decision. However, given an unheard of 'all access pass,' directors Adam Del Deo and James Stern capture everything in sight, documenting the experience in all its heartache and glory and ultimately giving fans the documentary that they deserve.
Full of emotion and expertise, the characters that comprise this once-in-a-lifetime experience are diverse and relatable, bringing about a sense of ease and understanding. Their hardships, though a different type, consume you as you quickly pick out your favorites and intoxicate yourselves in their strength and perseverance. Their will to succeed is something that we all long for, as is their self-perception and strong desire to do what they love. And while the main focus of the film is clear cut and dry, the fact that it offers an unexpected look into the heart and mind of the dream-seekers helps to make Every Little Step all the more enjoyable to experience. The end effect is mesmerizing as you sit and witness a true spectacle; one that is rarely shown in the world of documentary filmmaking.
Rather than foreshadow all that is to come, directors Del Deo and Stern opt to keep the audience guessing. Showing a wide range of auditions, some good and some bad, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat as you await the verdict just like those auditioning. The process can be painful, antagonizing even, but in the end, it is this simple effect that helps make Every Little Step the best documentary thus far this year.
