Honestly, it would be hard for me to say that I've seen a better film this year. I know that sounds like a serious statement, and believe me it is; however Mao's Last Dancer did nothing that I could fault.
Set in Houston in the 1980's, the movie is based on the autobiography of Li Cuxin. As a boy, Li was taken from his family by the Chinese government and enrolled in the Beijing Dance Academy. Training constantly, he never saw his family, and grew up to be a successful dancer. Eventually, he traveled to the United States to work with the Houston Ballet. Towards the end of his stay, he is suddenly faced with the question of where exactly he belongs.
In the first 30 minutes of the film, Li's present experiences in Houston are intertwined with flashbacks of his past in China. This immediately grabbed my attention. I was grateful that instead of holding information back, the movie decided to lay it all out there from the beginning. This worked to its advantage. By the time the film hit the hour mark, I was rooting for Li to succeed, and was willing to stick with him until it was over.
The dancing was astonishing. Although I personally have a passion for ballet, I think most would agree that the film was conscious enough to incorporate ballet pieces when appropriate and make it something that appealed to the entire audience. At the same time, I was glad they chose actors who could also dance, instead of using body doubles. The reason why this film worked is because of the fact that it felt like you were right there living Li's life, and not just watching a portrait of it.
Everything flowed, and the two-hour runtime was just the right amount. It's been awhile since I've seen such a captivating story told so simply and much of that credit goes to director Bruce Beresford. I have to admit that I even teared up at one scene, which goes to show just how invested I became in this film.
Mao's Last Dancer tells an amazing story. With the use of artful dancing and gritty emotion, it's a film I'm hoping will get some recognition come Oscar season. Whether or not that happens, I'm going to make sure everyone I know gets a chance to see it, and perhaps I'll tag along for another viewing.
