Based on 191 votes and 39 reviews.
Loved this movie -- so well done. A keeper for lovers of dance movies.
A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.
Although this is an intriguing and inspiring story, the acting and the dialogue failed to move me; the dancing was superb but I did not connect with the characters....I read the book first and it had a much stronger impact.
A great story.
An excellent movie, with really really good performances.
Very touching, beautiful movie. Very well done.
touching and entertaining
Wonderful scenes of dancing and a great historical movie.
An interesting biographical piece though I'm not keen on modern ballet.
interesting engaging story