Desert
Dancer (2015/Fox DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B Film: C-
Richard
Raymond's Desert Dancer (2015) is not without decent
performances and some impressive dancing sequences, but is too
cliched and melodramatic for its own good. Frieda Pinto lights up
the screen as she always does with her angelic presence, but all in
all the direction and writing pull this flick down a few pegs.
In
the volatile political and social climate of 2009 Tehran, Afshin
Ghaffarian (Reece Ritchie) and a group of dancers start a secret
dance company in the Iranian desert, far from the prying eyes of the
government police. Along with a woman named Elaheh (Pinto) who helps
them refine their skills, Afshin and his company use what little
Internet they can access to learn moves from banned videos starring
legends like Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev.
Presented
in standard definition with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of
2.39:1 and a lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 track, the film looks
and sounds fine for the DVD format, but I'm sure would benefit to the
clarity of HD with its emphasis on visuals and dancing.
Extras
include...
Desert
Dancer: In Conversation with Afshin Ghaffarian
The
Rise of the People
First
Memories
If
you are really into dance choreography then you might get something
more out of Desert Dancer than I did, but I find it to be a
safe one to skip.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
