Mao's Last Dancer

At the age of 11, Li Cunxin was forcibly removed from his rural home and forced into Chairman Mao’s ballet school in Beijing. Okay, so for most men that’s a nightmare too horrific to entertain, but it actually benefitted Li and set in motion events that would change his entire life.

As a result he ended up going to the Houston Ballet School in the US as part of an exchange programme and once there discovered that there is more to life than communism. Like beautiful blonde women and money, for one. So when the time comes for him to return to China, Li’s not so keen and tries everything to stay in the Land of the Free. He’s denied, and so starts another battle. The film beautifully portrays the difficult true story without the usual sappy pitfalls. Not for men who can’t imagine doing pliés however.

Rating: 4 outta 5.