Wednesday January 9th 2013
Australia 2009  117 minutes
Director: Bruce Beresford
Starring: Chi Cao, Chengwu Guo, Bruce Greenwood

This film is based on the real-life story of Li Cunxin, born into a peasant family during Mao’s Cultural Revolution and selected for special training at the Beijing dance academy. As a talented and powerful dancer he visits America on a cultural exchange visit, and falls under the influence of Ben Stevenson, Houston Ballet’s artistic director. Li’s dancing and personal life flourish, and some two years later he manages to ‘defect’ to the west to develop his career still further. The beautifully choreographed ballet sequences are an added visual treat in an already attractive and pleasing work.