Desert Dancer

Name: Desert Dancer
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: April 10, 2015
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 49

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Desert Dancer

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Movie Details & Credits

Relativity Media | Release Date: April 10, 2015 | PG-13

Summary: Set in Iran, this powerful and unbelievable true story follows the brave ambition of Afshin Ghaffarian. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms were threatened, Afshin and some friends (including Elaheh played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company. ThroughSet in Iran, this powerful and unbelievable true story follows the brave ambition of Afshin Ghaffarian. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms were threatened, Afshin and some friends (including Elaheh played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company. Through banned online videos, they learn from timeless legends who cross all cultural divides, such as Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other, most importantly how to embrace their passion for dance and for one another. [Relativity Media]… Expand

Director: Richard Raymond

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle

Apr 9, 2015

In the end, it’s hard to know whether to see the Iran of Desert Dancer in optimistic or pessimistic terms. Young people, especially, want to be free, but the other side has all the power. Having YouTube on your side certainly helps, but an army and some tanks can come in handy, too. Read full review

Mary Houlihan

Apr 9, 2015

The powerfully choreographed dances also address the idea that artistic vision is a potent antidote to repression. Read full review

James Mottram

Dec 21, 2016

With robotic depictions of Iran's 'morality police', the political subtext is strictly one-dimensional. But with ace choreographer Akram Khan on board, the dancing is powerful. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Apr 9, 2015

First time feature director Richard Raymond never quite lifts this above generic in tone and message. Read full review

Andy Webster

Apr 9, 2015

Desert Dancer explores fascinating aspects of present-day Iran but suffers mightily from simplistic and sentimental tendencies. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Apr 9, 2015

One of those message movies that never uses subtlety when a sledgehammer is handy. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Apr 6, 2015

The film's relentless turning of its characters' experience into platitudes and homilies is served for our too-easy consumption. Read full review

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User Reviews

Brent_Marchant

Apr 11, 2015

If you can overlook a screenplay that seems to play fast and loose with the facts, as well as some occasionally pedestrian directing, then this fictionalized biopic might be right up your alley. The film's dance sequences are well-handled, and the performances are all capable. It's just aIf you can overlook a screenplay that seems to play fast and loose with the facts, as well as some occasionally pedestrian directing, then this fictionalized biopic might be right up your alley. The film's dance sequences are well-handled, and the performances are all capable. It's just a shame that so much of the narrative had to be inflated to make the film work (or maybe there wasn't enough there to work with at the outset).… Expand

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GreatMartin

Apr 17, 2015

While watching the slow act one in the film “Desert Dancer” my mind wandered and I wondered how much shown in a film ‘based on a true story’ are really events shown as they happened in real life or are they manufactured for the film? Also watching Freida Pinto I thought if this was the oldWhile watching the slow act one in the film “Desert Dancer” my mind wandered and I wondered how much shown in a film ‘based on a true story’ are really events shown as they happened in real life or are they manufactured for the film? Also watching Freida Pinto I thought if this was the old days of the Hollywood movie studios one of them would grab her up, bring her to the States and build her up as the ‘next exotic’ beauty.

Back to the movie, which has three interesting dance sequences, the first showing how Afshin Ghaffarian, played by Reece Ritchie, became interested in dance and how he and Elaleh, Pinto’s character, devise dance by starting with the movements of hands. The second is the title dance that takes place in the desert where the dance troupe, hiding what is against the law in Iraq, feel they can dance free without repercussions. The third dance is a solo Ghaffarian does in a Paris Theatre explaining what has happened to him in Iraq and why he can’t/won’t go back. Did it really happen this way or has ‘Hollywood” infiltrated other film makers in other countries and this is ‘bending the truth’ a little or a lot?

“Desert Dancer”, directed by Richard Ritchie, is the story of Afshin Ghaffarian, who wanted to become a dancer but knew it wasn’t allowed in his country and how he eventually left Tehran and found his dream in Paris. We follow his love story with Elaleh and the dance troupe of 4 consisting of gamin Marama Corlett, friend Tom Cullen and others.

During the credits we see, and are told, what happened to Ghaffarian but nothing about the rest of the people we learn about in the film. Is Elaleh a real person or a reel one? If the former what has happened to her? What happened to the others who were involved in his life in Iran and helped him become a dancer? Here I come Bing!

“Desert Dancer”, at 104 minutes, has a slow set up but a very effective, moving climax.… Expand

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