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Mao's Last Dancer (2009)

7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 4,360 users   Metascore: 55/100
Reviews: 50 user | 103 critic | 23 from Metacritic.com

A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In ... See full summary »

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Title: Mao's Last Dancer (2009)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chi Cao ...
...
Penne Hackforth-Jones ...
Cynthia Dodds
...
Mason (as Chris Kirby)
...
Madeleine Eastoe ...
Lori
...
Dilworth
Wen Bin Huang ...
Shu Guang Liang ...
Jing Tring - 8 yrs
Ye Wang ...
Cunfar - 14 yrs
Neng Neng Zhang ...
Gong Mei
Wan Shi Xu ...
Shen Yu
Shao Wei Yi ...
Yang Ping
Hui Cong Zhan ...
Teacher Song
Ji Feng Sun ...
Headmaster
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Storyline

A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

ballet | dancer | village | love | marriage | See more »

Taglines:

Before You Can Fly You Have To Be Free.


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for a brief violent image, some sensuality, language and incidental smoking | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

Language:

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Release Date:

1 October 2009 (Australia)  »

Also Known As:

El prodigio  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$199,657 (USA) (20 August 2010)

Gross:

$4,806,750 (USA) (3 December 2010)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Chen is friends with Charles Foster's wife, actress Ye Chen. They worked together in the Shanghai Film Studio. Charles Foster is portrayed in the film by Kyle MacLachlan, who previously worked with Joan Chen in Twin Peaks. See more »

Goofs

When Liz is leaving for San Francisco, She is driving out of the street. In the corner, it is obvious in the corner there is a street post saying "Darling St." in Sydney, with the City of Sydney logo on it. This scene is played in Houston. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Maltin on Movies: The Switch (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"Young Pioneers"
Written by Ji Ming and Zhou Hu Yui
Performed by China Fuli Children's Choir
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Brilliant and Classic
31 August 2010 | by (San Jose, CA) – See all my reviews

Mao's Last Dancer is a brilliantly made movie, thanks to the flawless direction of Bruce Beresford. I had not even heard of this film until I saw a local ad for it. I also didn't know about the book. I watched this movie with eyes wide open! The dancing blew me away, and yes, I have to admit, I cried several times. The story of Li Cunxin is amazing. He is played magnificently by Chi Cao (as an adult), who, I understand, is a well known Chinese dancer in his own right. Bruce Greenwood, which I like very much, plays the role of the Houston Ballet Director with absolute perfection. Several reviews have included the plot of the film, so I'm not going to get into here. I only want to stress to everyone who has not seen this movie, don't miss it!!! And bring a box of hankies...


11 of 13 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Li is a horrible horrible person mablecheng1981
Great film apart from one terrible scene... feilidh_dwyer
Simplistic Anti China- Western propaganda film endecottp
Why Ballet?? mail-3288
Bruce Greenwood's performance gwendyloo
Loved it! Meira78
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