Desert dancer (2015)

	Also Known As: Wüstentänzer
	Year of first release: 2015
	Director: Richard Raymond
	Actors: Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie
	Country: GB
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 16.06.2014, Schauburg, OV sneak preview
Synopsis: The film is based on a true story. Afshin Ghaffarian (Ritchie) likes dancing since kid and decides to learn it seriously. Problem is that in Iran dancing is forbidden. His friends see a freedom of expression they do not have otherwise. As they meet a new dancer, Elaheh (Pinto), who really can dance, they learn a lot and aim at performing in the desert.
Review: I sounds strange to have a movie planned to be released in 2015 having a review in June 2014. But this is the advantage of the sneak preview of the movie theater Schauburg. I will do a special article about that to explain a bit better what it is. The young Afshin likes dancing. But this is forbidden in the islamic republic of Iran. From this plot the story developps the antagonism of a police state forbidding any expression form and a group of young adults that need to express themselves. The greatest antagonism has nothing to do with dance but with the brother of one of the students who is part of the political milice.  The actors speak English with an accent that may sound Iranian. The feelings of an adequate voice is a bit lost. The performance is still great due to the body language and the face language. And this is the main conflict I see in the movie. The antagonism is shown in a beautiful form via the actors. Also the bad guys have a very remarkable language. The story telling with the off-tone gives a lot of authenticity. The directing has then not much to do to transmit this authenticity and the feelings of freedom searched by the group. The dancing scenes between Pinto and Ritchie are beautifully filmed with a camera in fluid movements and with fine sensitivity.
Rating: 7 /10 Modern dance scene and the camera turns around the couple