Mao’s Last Dancer – Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews, Top Story

An inspirational story about a dancer trying to gain freedom.

Since our current President was elected, the country has been divided. Republicans vs. Democrats, Tea Party vs. Coffee Party, and everyone wants to voice their opinion via social media. Some right wing media has even gone so far as to throw out such words as Communism and Socialism in regards to the President’s agenda. The beauty of America is that they are allowed to voice whatever opinion they choose, without worry of oppression. What they don’t understand is that words like that are much harsher than they think. When watching Mao’s Last Dancer, the story of a ballet dancer from Communist China, the differences between Communism and America are apparent.

In 1960s China, a young boy name Li Cunxin is taken from his family by the government to attend a rigorous ballet academy. This is viewed as a great honor for his family, so they are more happy than heartbroken that he is chosen to represent China and the great Mao Zedong. Years later, while Li is a teenager, an American visits the school and is impressed with his dancing. Ben Stevenson, director of the Houston Ballet, extends an offer to Li to visit America for three months and study with him at his academy.

Li accepts the offer, but before he is released by the Chinese Embassy, he is told to pass on Communism to America and resist any Western ideals. While there is a bit of a language and cultural barrier, Li quickly fits in with the Houston Ballet due to his immaculate dancing abilities. When his three months is up, the Chinese Embassy gives him an ultimatum: either return to China or defect the country and never return. Li has fallen in love and gotten married, and China refuses to acknowledge it.

Ben, Li’s new bride Elizabeth, and Li’s lawyer refuse to leave the Embassy until Li is released and this causes a media storm on the Embassy. Li is finally released, but is forced to defect. It is his love for ballet that keeps him going through the emotional turmoil of never getting to see his family again, and his eventual divorce from Elizabeth.

This true story of Li Cunxin is incredibly moving and makes for a compelling film. The childhood story of Li, as he is taken from his family and forced to live at the Beijing Ballet Academy, is told through flashbacks while he is living out the present in Houston. Through these flashbacks, the audience is slowly introduced to the horrors of Communism and empathizes greatly with Li and his commitment to his family and his country. Director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) weaves this true tale so seamlessly, the triumphant ending is emotional; not a dry eye in the theater.

In a humorous scene, Li hears someone talking bad about the current President. He looks around frantically and asks, “Aren’t you worried someone will hear you?” They respond, “I hope someone does! This is America.” Li learned to dance in Communist China under oppression, but he learned to love to dance in America where he could be free. When experiencing Mao’s Last Dancer, whether Conservative or Liberal, we can take a step back from bipartisanship to enjoy the freedom that comes from living in America.


Director: Bruce Beresford
Notable Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclaughlan, Joan Chen, Chi Cao
Writer(s): Jan Sardi, based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin

Jenny is proud to be the First Lady of Inside Pulse Movies. She gives female and mommy perspective, and has two kids who help with rating family movies. (If they don't like 'em, what's the point?) She prefers horror movies to chick flicks, and she can easily hang with the guys as long as there are several frou-frou girlie drinks to be had.