Mao’s Last Dancer

I recently saw a movie called Mao’s Last Dancer. The film is a drama based on the autobiography of Chinese (male) dancer Li Cunxin. I don’t really need to describe the plot; you can read the New York Times movie review here.

The question you’re probably asking now is this: is this film a guy movie or a chick flick? Well, let’s see. First we’ll take the guy-movie test:

The movie: 
  has a car chase: No.
  has car crashes: No.
  has shootouts: No. 
  takes place in the Old West: No.
  is about sports: No.
  is about male bonding: No.
  features beer-drinking, hot tubs, or naked chicks: No, no, and no.

No points. Let’s give it the chick-flick test.

The movie:
  was produced by a woman: Yes
  deals with relationships: Yes.
  has a love story: Yes. 
  has guys in tights: Yes.
  has ballet scenes: Yes.
  is a tear-jerker: No. (A woman might say “Yes.”)
  is a romantic-comedy: No.
  seems long: Yes.

Six points out of eight. “Chick-ish,” I would say.

Okay, I admit I’m being facetious here and playing with sterotypes. I found Mao’s Last Dancer to be an entertaining film. If you can relax and let the plot unfold slowly and not be impatient to get to the end, you’ll be entertained by it. And keep in mind, it’s based on a true story: the story of a peasant boy, born in the East, who endures hardship and struggle in his transformation into one of the great dancers of the West.