Dancing Across Borders

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03/01/2012 When 16-year-old Sokvannara Sar, a charismatic Cambodian with a gift for his native folk dances, arrived in New York City in 2001 as the protégé of Anne Bass, he had never seen ballet-and wasn't that stoked about it. "This ballet thing is going to turn me into a duck," he remembers thinking. "I don't think I want to do this." It's a sentiment Sar repeats throughout Dancing Across Borders, and it is to first-time director Bass's credit that she marked his ambivalence in this otherwise blithely tone-deaf ode to her own generosity and that of dance instructor Olga Kostritzky. There are several uncomfortable factors at play in the story of Sar's success-the clear class and culture shock; the pressure to compress 10 years of ballet training into three lest he lose his patron's attention-but Bass, enamored of his talent and determined to shape it to her liking, elides every one. Instead, we get white folks ruminating lyrically on the peasant Asian's role as a kind of grand jeté bridge between East and West, and long performance sequences that are dazzling to behold but quite troubling to contemplate. See more 07/30/2011 Another interesting ballet story. I'd still like to see 'Mao's last dancer'. See more 06/10/2011 Amazing ballet footage of "Sy". Sy has a natural grace and charm that comes off well on film -- it is truly amazing how accomplished a dancer he has become after a few years of ballet instruction. This movie is a joy to see for dance enthusiasts. See more 05/26/2011 When 16-year-old Sokvannara Sar, a charismatic Cambodian with a gift for his native folk dances, arrived in New York City in 2001 as the protégé of Anne Bass, he had never seen ballet-and wasn't that stoked about it. "This ballet thing is going to turn me into a duck," he remembers thinking. "I don't think I want to do this." It's a sentiment Sar repeats throughout Dancing Across Borders, and it is to first-time director Bass's credit that she marked his ambivalence in this otherwise blithely tone-deaf ode to her own generosity and that of dance instructor Olga Kostritzky. There are several uncomfortable factors at play in the story of Sar's success-the clear class and culture shock; the pressure to compress 10 years of ballet training into three lest he lose his patron's attention-but Bass, enamored of his talent and determined to shape it to her liking, elides every one. Instead, we get white folks ruminating lyrically on the peasant Asian's role as a kind of grand jeté bridge between East and West, and long performance sequences that are dazzling to behold but quite troubling to contemplate. See more 06/10/2010 I really liked the subject matter of this documentary. Rich people go to Cambodia and "discover" a highly talented dancer with a smile that lights up the world, an arrogance that will project confidence on a stage, and a heart of gold. So, they take him to new York and train him to be a ballet dancer because, well, what poor rice patty boy from Cambodia wouldn't want to do that? For all its faults, "Dancing Across Borders" does have a charm because of the subject matter. In fact, you have a sneaky suspicion he will reach the goal of becoming a critically-acclaimed dancer, but you cheer for him anyway because he is such a sweetheart of a human being. To recap, subject matter-good, rich people who needed vanity and a project-bad. See more 04/17/2010 When one is present at an amazing miracle of serendipity between three souls the last place it's expected to happen is a documentary movie. However those three people, Anne, Olga and Sy, with a group of talented and patient friends and colleges, created this miracle, overflown by almost motherly love, tangible efforts and great vision. To watch a sincere and sacrificial process of creating from diamond in the raw a shining and elegant ballet star is a magic and uplifting expirience! Please, accept our deep appreciation for the fantastic hour in our lifes! Some previous reviews, in my humble opinion, are mainly When one is present at an amazing miracle of serendipity between three souls the last place it's expected to happen is a documentary movie. However those three people, Anne, Olga and Sy, with a group of talented and patient friends and colleges, created this miracle, overflown by almost motherly love, tangible efforts and great vision. To watch a sincere and sacrificial process of creating from diamond in the raw a shining and elegant ballet star is a magic and uplifting expirience! Please, accept our deep appreciation for the fantastic hour in our lifes! Some previous reviews, in my humble opinion, are mainly concerned with technicalities and becoming soulless! Yakov T. See more Read all reviews

Dancing Across Borders

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