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The Dancer Upstairs
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The Dancer Upstairs (2002)

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User Rating: 6.9/10 (3,041 votes)
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Overview

Director:
John Malkovich
Writers:
Nicholas Shakespeare (novel)
Nicholas Shakespeare (screenplay)
Release Date:
20 September 2002 (Spain) more view trailer
Genre:
Drama | Thriller | Crime more
Tagline:
An honest man caught in a world of intrigue, power and passion.
Plot:
A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Sun Sets On Sundance (From Studio Briefing. 21 January 2002)
User Comments:
You must be able to dance in the political world! more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Javier Bardem ... Agustín Rejas

Juan Diego Botto ... Sucre
Laura Morante ... Yolanda

Elvira Mínguez ... Llosa
Alexandra Lencastre ... Sylvina Rejas
Oliver Cotton ... Merino
Luís Miguel Cintra ... Calderón
Javier Manrique ... Clorindo
Abel Folk ... Ezequiel Durán
Marie-Anne Berganza ... Laura
Lucas Rodríguez ... Gómez
Xabier Elorriaga ... Pascual
Natalia Dicenta ... Marina

Wolframio Sinué ... Santiago
Ramiro Jiménez ... Sergeant Pisac
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Pasos de baile (Spain)
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MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, and for language.
Runtime:
132 min
Country:
Spain | USA
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
Espinho, Aveiro, Portugal more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 1% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The story is inspired by the Maoist insurgency in Peru known as the Shining Path. Its leader Abimael Guzmán, who was known by the nom de guerre President Gonzalo, was captured in an apartment above a ballet studio in the capital Lima in 1992. The ballet teacher Yolanda was based on Maritza Garrido Lecca, the woman in whose apartment Guzmán was found. Bardem's character was inspired by Benedicto Jimenez and General Antonio Ketin Vidal, the leading figures responsible for Guzmán's capture. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When they are searching through garbage, the female officer's mask (which is around her neck) appears on her mouth for one shot. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Revealing 'The Dancer Upstairs' (2003) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Pearl Curtain in the Moon more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
17 out of 19 people found the following comment useful:-
You must be able to dance in the political world!, 10 June 2004
9/10
Author: Michael J. Rice, III (taxrice) from Metairie, LA

I would expect a movie directed by John Malkovich to be intense and specific. The Dancer Upstairs is that. It is a political movie that while popular in Europe, does not tend to draw well in the United States. Too bad.

The story tells the tale of a lawyer who has left the law looking for a better system. I don't know that becoming a police detective is that much better, but it serves the story. The story is set in a nameless Latin American country -- which also suits the story line.

Detective Lt. Agustín Rejas (Javier Bardem) has left a law firm where he was a junior partner, to join law enforcement -- with a conscious. He can give a break to a traveler whose papers are not quite right and he can be relentless in his pursuit of a terrorist.

Rejas has been victimized by the politics of his country. His father lost his coffee farm to the soldiers. His view of the judicial system has seen a rapist become president of the country. But still, Rejas finds joy in his beautiful dancer daughter and his wife -- who has a political mission of her own. Then he meets the free spirited dance instructor for his daughter.

Rejas works in a corrupt society where the fiscal corruption goes hand in hand with the moral and political corruption. The central government is all too ready to suspend civil rights and to put military law into effect. The military killing innocent people is fine as long as it suits the party.

Rejas attempts to live the just life and must deal with the corruption the best he can. This conflict is the heart of the movie. As he says, he has feelings about his father losing his farm and he is the Gary Cooper type.

Javier Bardem is excellent in the pivotal role. Juan Diego Botto does a very credible job as Detective Sgt. Sucre. Laura Morante is intoxicating as dance instructor focal point of the story.

I give this move a 9 for great story and suspense, excellent direction and fine acting. There is no sex and very brief nudity. The violence does tend to be horrific and there are depictions of cruelty to animals -- both central to the plot. This is far less than the typical Jason or Chainsaw movies gore.

I consider this an excellent direction debut for John Malkovich and look forward to his next feature film effort. It feels like Malkovich will fill a role similar to Robert Redford in films he has directed.

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WTF nimrodfiftyfourx
This was a giveaway for me (spoiler) MuchToBeGratefulFor
Yolanda sandyfontwit
what's that sexy song? marinaolex
The ending willow2
Portugal it´s not Spain!!!!!!!! Vivyane
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