Mao's Last Dancer

Director: Bruce Beresford
Writers: Jan Sardi, Li Cunxin
Starring: Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood
Release Date: May 14, 2010
Length: 1 hour 57 minutes

From Australian director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy), comes the inspiring true story of Li Cinxin (Chi Cao), a Chinese dancer who found trouble balancing his new life in America with his family in communist China. In 1972, 11 year-old Li Cunxin was living in a village of China, when he was chosen to be trained at Bejing Dance Academy as a dancer. He stayed there until his late teens, when dance teacher, Ben Stevenson (Bruce Greenwood) came to find dancers and was impressed by Li. Stevenson managed to bring Li back to America, where he was supposed to train for three months. Li begins to adjust to life in America, falling in love with a fellow dancer, Liz (Amanda Schull). When Li wants to live in America forever, problems arise between the American and Chinese government that cause Li to think of all he has left at home. Based on the autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer captivates the comparison of the harsh way of living in 1980’s rural China and the free, optimistic lifestyle in the United States, through Li’s perspective. Canadian actor, Bruce Greenwood was impeccable as Li’s dance trainer and the head of the Houston Ballet Company, Ben Stevenson. Greenwood perfectly portrayed the English, gay dancer without being over the top or too flamboyant. From his voice to his walk, Greenwood gave one of the most subtle, brilliant character performances to ever be put on screen. Newcomer Chi Cao has never had any acting experience before, which on purpose or not, helped his role because he came off more nervous and confused when he arrived in America. I could hardly think about his acting techniques though, when I was watching his several amazing dance sequences. Kyle Machlachlan also put on a strong performance as Li’s immigrational lawyer and Joan Chen was heartbreaking as Li’s mother. Choreographers, Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon create some of the most enjoyable dances to watch on screen, with the help of camera effects from Beresford. There was just enough dance sequences to remind the audience that dancing is a major part of this film, without there being too many. There was a perfect blend of dancing and acting in this film. Mao’s Last Dancer makes us feel all of Li’s bewilderment from growing up in communist China to moving to the free America. This is one of those films that try and put you into the shoes of the main character, feeling everything in the film that is happening just as they are. Beresford dives into our hearts to move and touch us, without this film being an over the top tearjerker.