Mao's Last Dancer (2009)

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Jan Sardi (screenplay)
Cunxin Li (autobiography)

Release Date:

1 October 2009 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Before You Can Fly You Have To Be Free.

Plot:

A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese...

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Dancer | Village | Love | Marriage

Awards:

7 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Chi Cao	...	Li Cunxin - as an adult
Bruce Greenwood	...	Ben Stevenson
Penne Hackforth-Jones	...	Cynthia Dodds
Christopher Kirby	...	Mason (as Chris Kirby)
Suzie Steen	...	Betty Lou
Madeleine Eastoe	...	Lori
Aden Young	...	Dilworth
Wen Bin Huang	...	Li Cunxin - as a child
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
Zhi Xue Chai	...	Official Guan
Chang Suo Zhang	...	Official Chan Feng
Jie Cheng	...	Official Yu
Joan Chen	...	Niang
Shuangbao Wang	...	Dia (as Shuang Bao Wang)
Zheng Nong Yang	...	Cunyuan - 21 yrs
Yang Li	...	Cunmao - 19 yrs
Wen Bin Zhang	...	Cunsang - 17 yrs
Ferdinand Hoang	...	Consul Zhang
Tian Xia	...	Door Soldier
Yue Hu	...	Long Face Boy
Jia Hui Zhang	...	Clumsy Sumersault Boy
Hang Yu	...	Boy Candidate
Bao Li	...	Advisor Xu
Hao Tian Xue	...	Shing Hua - 11 yrs
Hui Min Tian	...	Chung Jun Town Leader
Yu Qi Zhang	...	Chan Lan District Chief
Hong Tao Wang	...	Cuncia
Ping Chen	...	Miss So
Peng Cao	...	Mr. Hung
Su Zhang	...	Teacher Chan
Ming Yue Ma	...	Lau - 11 yrs
Jian Wang	...	Su - 11 yrs
Chang He	...	Tong - 11 yrs
Jun Ming Tian	...	Lujun - 12 yrs
Xi Guo Wu	...	Director Wang
Gang Jiao	...	Teacher Gao
Chengwu Guo	...	Li Cunxin - as a teenager
Jun Ping Zhu	...	Mistress Chiu Ho
Meng Ni Yang	...	Shing Hua - 15 yrs
Zu Quan Kou	...	Lau - 15 yrs
Cheng Yue Zhu	...	Su - 15 yrs
Long Dai	...	Tong - 15 yrs
Hong Jian Li	...	Lujun - 16 yrs
Steven Heathcote	...	Bobby Cordner
Xiuqing Yue	...	Madame Official (as Xiu Qing Yue)
Jun Long Kang	...	Madame's Companion
Meng Wang	...	Bow Shooter
Feng Qi Ma	...	Cobbler
Ya Xuan Xu	...	Shing Hua - 19 yrs
Jia Yong Sun	...	Lau - 19 yrs
Ke Zhu	...	Su - 19 yrs
Lu Ning Chen	...	Tong - 19 yrs
Hong Tao Lin	...	Lujun - 20 yrs
Camilla Vergotis	...	Mary McKendry
Fan Wang	...	Chinese Translator
Xiao Dong Tian	...	Cunfar - 21 yrs
Huai Ping Yang	...	Jing Tring - 15 yrs
Amanda Schull	...	Elizabeth Mackey
Monica Curran	...	Mrs. Tan
Lucy Egger	...	MC / Orlofski
Alice Parkinson	...	Assistant Stage Manager
Kip Gamblin	...	David
Paul Stanhope	...	Swan Lake Conductor
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Charles Foster
Deni Hines	...	Anita Jones
Peter Steele	...	Press Photographer
Michael Moore	...	Maítre D'
Jon-Claire Lee	...	Vice Consul Lan
Min Lu	...	Security Guard #1
Robin Choi	...	Security Guard #2 (as Rob Choi)
Ron Lee	...	Security Guard #3
Cory Vi	...	Security Guard #4
Cheuk-Fai Chan	...	Security Guard #5
Sean Huling Chen	...	Security Guard #6
Quan Tran	...	Consul Duty Officer
Jack Thompson	...	Judge Woodrow Seals
Gibson Nolte	...	China Desk Officer
Ted Maynard	...	Newsreader
Nick McKay	...	TV Reporter
Nicholas Hammond	...	TV Reporter
Chad H. Loxsom	...	FBI Man
Leslie Bell	...	TV Presenter
Ian Meadows	...	WTC Backstage Manager
George Ellis	...	Houston Ballet Conductor
John Thwaites	...	Senator
Jane Harders	...	Senator's Wife
Leanne Atkins	...	Reception Guest
Dan Yang Cong	...	The Boy Who Asks
Kismet Bourne	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Gina Brescianini	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Juliet Burnett	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Jacinta Christos	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Eloise Fryer	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Amy Harris	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Natalie Hill	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Halaina Hills	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Miwako Kubota	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Natasha Kusen	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Melissa Lenehan	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Brooke Lockett	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Heidi Martin	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Frances Murphy	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Gabriella Raetz	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Sharni Spencer	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Dana Stephensen	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Leanne Stojmenov	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Laura Tong	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Alice Topp	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Stephanie Williams	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Vivienne Wong	...	Member, The Australian Ballet
Adam Blanch	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Kevin Chen	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Chylie Cooper	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Emmee Dillon	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company (as Emee Dillon)
Connor Dowling	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Annabel Knight	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Johanna Lee	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Teagan Lowe	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Reed Luplau	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company (as Reed Laplau)
Veronica Mahon	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Shaun Parker	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Jan Pinkerton	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Matthew Trent	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Simon Turner	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Kalman Warhaft	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
Jason Wilcock	...	Member, Sydney Dance Company
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Graham Gall	...	Audience
Suzi-Ann Ryan	...	Dancer
Cleave Williams	...	Texas Security
Sam Anderson	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Mikhail Baryshnikov	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Barbara Bush	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Bush	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Andrew Fritz	...	Bar Worker (uncredited)
Laurence Fuller	...	Aspiring Dancer (uncredited)
Tony Hall	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Brenda Kuciemba	...	Concert Patron (uncredited)
Zedong Mao	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Kay Salem	...	Galleria Shopper (uncredited)
Chloe Traicos	...	Frizzy Head Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Bruce Beresford

Writing credits
Jan Sardi		(screenplay)
Cunxin Li		(autobiography)

Produced by
Ling Geng	....	co-producer: China
Troy Lum	....	executive producer
Sue MacKay	....	line producer
Jane Scott	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Gordon

Cinematography by
Peter James		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mark Warner

Production Design by
Herbert Pinter

Art Direction by
Elaine Kusmishko

Set Decoration by
Kerrie Brown

Costume Design by
Anna Borghesi

Makeup Department
Ziggy Golden	....	hair stylist
Ziggy Golden	....	makeup artist
Rona Lamont	....	hair supervisor: Houston
Rona Lamont	....	makeup supervisor: Houston
Wei Liu	....	assistant artist: China
Maree McDonald	....	hair stylist: China
Maree McDonald	....	makeup artist: China
Vivien Mepham	....	hair designer (as Viv Mepham)
Vivien Mepham	....	makeup designer (as Viv Mepham)
Xin Mu	....	makeup artist: China
Lei Qi	....	translator: hair department, China
Lei Qi	....	translator: makeup department, China
Christine Spiller	....	makeup assistant
Simone Wajon	....	hair stylist
Simone Wajon	....	makeup artist
Qi Wang	....	hair stylist: China
Qi Wang	....	hair stylist: China
Yang Zhang	....	assistant artist: China
Yang Zhang	....	assistant artist: China
Ya Ning Zhao	....	assistant artist: China
Warren Hanneman	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Susan Elkins	....	unit production manager: Houston
Katherine Heads	....	post-production supervisor
Simon Lucas	....	unit manager
Paul Ranford	....	production manager: China
Xiu Feng Sun	....	on-set production manager: China
Jing-Hua Wang	....	production manager: China (as Jing Hua Wang)
Yang Zhang	....	on-set production manager: China
Zheng Zhang	....	assistant unit manager: China

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Debbie Antoniou	....	additional assistant director (as Deborah Antoniou)
Leora Backer	....	second assistant director: Houston
Darwin Brooks	....	second second assistant director
Jiao Chen	....	second second assistant director
Lucy Egerton	....	second assistant director (as Lucinda Egerton)
Mark Egerton	....	first assistant director
Ming Hua Gang	....	assistant assistant director: China
Er Ban Jiang Ku	....	second assistant director: China
Nicholas Lee	....	first assistant director: Houston second unit
Hui Li	....	assistant assistant director: China
Ying Ly	....	assistant assistant director: China
Hang Song	....	assistant assistant director: China
Ming Yang 'Jason' Sui	....	second second assistant director: China
Eddie Thorne	....	additional assistant director
Xiang Wang	....	assistant to first assistant director: China
Bing Yao	....	third assistant director: China
'The General' Jinzhan Zhang	....	first assistant director: China
Meng Yu Zhang	....	assistant assistant director: China
Andre Fleuren	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Hamish Roxburgh	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Dennis Archer	....	scenic artist
Verena Barthel	....	brush hand
Brett Bartlett	....	construction manager
Billy Bateup	....	construction runner
Billy Bateup	....	laborer
Benjamin Beresford	....	stand-by props attachment
Ian Bickerton	....	construction foreman
Simon Boyd	....	set builder
Alex Chomicz	....	assistant stand-by props
Shawn Cook	....	art assistant: Houston
Tim Cooney	....	art department assistant: Spain
Wen Ping Cui	....	set dresser: China
Wu Qing Cui	....	assistant props: China
Christina Díaz Norman	....	art department coordinator (as Christina Norman)
Alicia Emery	....	additional art department runner
Dan Forato	....	set builder
Feng Rui Guo	....	lead set builder: China
Rain Hart	....	graphic artist
Rain Hart	....	illustrator
Reuben Hill	....	head scenic artist
Xin Ming 'Yellow' Huang	....	art director: China
John Hunter	....	set builder
Zhao Long Ji	....	assistant art director: China
Li Jia	....	set dresser: China
Ming Yi 'Jasmine' Jiang	....	translator: props department, China
Ciaran Jordan	....	art department
Hannah Knowlton	....	art department buyer
Hannah Knowlton	....	set dresser
Arnold Korthoff	....	carpenter
Fergus Leese	....	construction coordinator
Da Peng Li	....	assistant art director: China
De Meng Liu	....	assistant props: China
Jiang Liu	....	head sculptor
Tristan Loomes	....	art department runner
Xiao Hui Lu	....	assistant props: China
Lin Ma	....	art department translator: China
David Malek	....	art department buyer
David Malek	....	set dresser
Craig Mandile	....	art department buyer
Craig Mandile	....	set dresser
Andrew Matthews	....	construction runner
Andrew Matthews	....	laborer
Andrew Matthews	....	laborer
Marian Murray	....	property mistress
Tarnia Nicol	....	draftsperson
Maggi Poorman	....	art director: Houston
Moussa Ramie	....	sculptor
Michael Short	....	trade assistant
Laurie Sobels	....	carpenter
Wantana 'Meow' Suesut	....	sculptor
Dean Sullivan	....	stand-by props
Zhi Fu Tian	....	property master: China
Zhi Guo Tian	....	set constructor: China
Bernardo Trujillo	....	supervising art director: China
Hanz Van Beers	....	construction foreman
Xin Xin Wang	....	assistant property master: China
Duo Xu	....	assistant art director: China
Chang Hai Yao	....	on-set construction: China
Xiang Wu Yu	....	assistant props: China
Bin Wei Zhang	....	assistant props: China
Hong Han Zhang	....	assistant props: China
Ji Feng Zhang	....	lead scenic painter: China
Oi Yi Zhang	....	assistant property master: China
Quan Zhang	....	assistant set constructor: China
Ying Shui Zhang	....	assistant props: China
Ying Shui Zhang	....	on-set construction: China
Guo Zhao	....	lead carpenter: China
Andrew Hardingham	....	practical electrician (uncredited)

Sound Department
Yulia Akerholt	....	supervising dialogue editor
Asha Ardill	....	sound facilities manager
Danielle Barron	....	foley editor (as Danii Barron)
Miik Dinko	....	adr mixer
Bruce Emery	....	dolby consultant
Mark Franken	....	sound effects editor
Ye Gong	....	foley recordist: China
Wei He	....	sound effects editor: China
Wei He	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hongrui Ji	....	sound effects editor: China
David Lee	....	sound mixer
Johny Liu	....	adr recordist: China
Robert Mackenzie	....	adr recordist (as Rob Mackenzie)
Xu Miao	....	foley artist: China
Andrew Neil	....	sound designer
Andrew Neil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Neil	....	supervising sound editor
Stacey Parish	....	sound assistant
Liesl Pieterse	....	adr recordist
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Brooke Trezise	....	sound editing assistant
Brooke Trezise	....	sound mixing assistant
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Mark Van Kool	....	boom operator
Jin Bao Wang	....	boom operator #2: China
Li Zhong Wang	....	boom operator #1: China
Sheng Wang	....	sound assistant: China
Andy Wright	....	adr recordist
Jiang Wu	....	sound recordist: China
Yanchao Yang	....	foley editor: China
Ben Zhang	....	adr supervisor: China
Rocky Zhang	....	foley: location fance, China
Yijing Zhang	....	assistant dialogue editor: China
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Thomas Van Koeverden	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Simon Alberry	....	i/o recording supervisor: EFilm Australia
Simon Alberry	....	i/o scanning supervisor: EFilm Australia
Daniel Bryant	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Tim Crosbie	....	visual effects supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Paul Cross	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Ben Dickson	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
John Dietz	....	visual effects producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Brad Dunn	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital supervisor: EFilm Australia
John Durney	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
William Gammon	....	2d sequence lead: Rising Sun Pictures
Leo Gomez	....	i/o operator: EFilm Australia
Matthew T. Griffin	....	compositor: EFilm Australia (as Matthew Griffin)
Sam Hancock	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Aeon Henderson	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Elizabeth Holmes	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Dennis Jones	....	2d supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Chris King	....	visual effects pipeline: Rising Sun Pictures
Danny Lee	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures (as Daniel Lee)
May Lo	....	i/o operator: EFilm Australia
Peter Luczak	....	i/o operator: EFilm Australia
Kevin Lynch	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Sarah McLauchlan	....	visual effects editor: Rising Sun Pictures
Alex Meddick	....	visual effects editor
Naomi Mitchell	....	visual effects coordinator: EFilm Australia
Sam Norman	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Ben Paschke	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Nick Pill	....	visual effects art director: Rising Sun Pictures
Peter Polyzoidis	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Eric Ponton	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Emily Probert	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Ben Roberts	....	2d sequence lead: Rising Sun Pictures
Doug Roberts	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Michael Slater	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Robert Stollar	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Takahiro Suzuki	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Takahiro Suzuki	....	compositor: titles, EFilm Australia
Ben Tanti	....	i/o operator: EFilm Australia
Richard Thwaites	....	visual effects coordinator: Rising Sun Pictures
Ben Warner	....	2d sequence lead: Rising Sun Pictures
Susan M. Weeks	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures (as Susan Weeks)
James Whitlam	....	visual effects executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Kristian Whitlock	....	compositor: EFilm Australia
Dan Wills	....	3d effects: Rising Sun Pictures
Michael Xie	....	visual technician: EFilm Australia
Henry Yekanians	....	i/o senior operator: EFilm Australia
Simon Zhang	....	visual technician: EFilm Australia
Victor Glushchenko	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)
Jad Haber	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Kaspar Zwirner	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Harry Dakanalis	....	stunt coordinator
Ingrid Kleinig	....	stunt driving double: Amanda Schull

Camera and Electrical Department
Li Guo Bai	....	grip: China
Ian Barton	....	best boy grip: additional Michigan unit
Wu Tong 'Johnny' Cao	....	grip: China
Yu Liang Cao	....	lighting assistant: China
Simon Cardwell	....	still photographer
Alexis Castagna	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Alexis Korin Castagna)
Pak Chen 'Jonathan' Chan	....	grip: China
Danny Chen	....	lighting assistant: Chiuna
Danny Chen	....	translator: lighting department, China
Man Quan Chen	....	grip: China
Dennis Clay	....	key grip: Houston
Damien Cooper	....	lighting designer: theatre
Matt Cox	....	follow spot operator
Billy Daniel	....	electrician: Houston
Garfield Darlington	....	electrician
Justin DeGuire	....	first assistant camera: Houston
Zheng Hua Duan	....	lighting assistant: China
Andre Fleuren	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Andre Fleuren	....	director of photography: second unit
Chris Follett	....	electrician
Yun Gao	....	lighting assistant: China (as Yun Qiang Gao)
Reg Garside	....	gaffer
Jonathan D. Guerra	....	gaffer: Houston (as Jon Guerra)
Simon Harding	....	Steadicam operator
Simon Harding	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Mark Harris	....	rigging gaffer
Adrian Hattingh	....	loader: Houston
Jian Hong He	....	grip: China
Frank Hruby	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Albart Hung	....	video split operator: China
Humberto Jaime	....	second assistant camera: Houston
Ren Kenward	....	head electrician: Theatre Royal
Stefan Laguna	....	rigging electrician
Fei Fei Li	....	grip: China
Qi Bing Li	....	lighting assistant: China
Tran Lei Li	....	gaffer: China
Yong Qian Li	....	lighting assistant: China
Zhi Gang Li	....	grip: China
Jeffrey Lulewicz	....	video split assistant: China (as Jeff Lulewicz)
Mike May	....	electrician: Houston
Hai Meng	....	lighting assistant: China
Jason Naran	....	video split operator
David Nichols	....	dolly grip
David Nichols	....	key grip
Stephen O'Keefe	....	follow spot operator
Leroy Pearce	....	rigging electrician (as Leeroy Pearce)
Eric Pickett	....	video assist: Houston
Justin Plummer	....	best boy
Fiona Qi	....	best boy grip
Fiona Qi	....	translator: grip department, China
James 'Spanky' Quin	....	follow spot operator
Aaron Rapira	....	grip
Walter Repich	....	cameraman: on-set footage
Harvey Riveria	....	best boy electric: Houston
Dave Shaw	....	key rigging grip
Pete Smith	....	grip
Ezra 'Xiao Le' Sterback	....	lighting assistant: China
Ezra 'Xiao Le' Sterback	....	translator: lighting department, China
Adrian Sterritt	....	head electrician: theatre
Adrian Sterritt	....	programmer: theatre
Pete Stockton	....	best boy grip: Houston (as Peter Stockton)
Dan Sun	....	electrician: China
Bao Yin Tang	....	lighting assistant: China
Li Guo Tang	....	grip: China
Rong Tang	....	key grip: China
Yue Guo Tang	....	lighting assistant: China
David Thatcher	....	lighting technical director: Theatre Rioyal
Matthew Wakai	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Matt Wakai)
Zhong Hai Wang	....	lighting assistant: China
Matt Windon	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Ben Peng Xu	....	lighting assistant: China
Hao Xu	....	lighting assistant: China
Wan Fei Xu	....	lighting assistant: China
Xin Yu Yan	....	grip: China
Chun Yang 'Sunny' Zhang	....	camera department assistant: China
Chun Yang 'Sunny' Zhang	....	translator: camera department, China
Fang Zhang	....	grip: China
Yun Ling Zhang	....	lighting assistant: China
Chun Cheng Zhao	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, China
Hong Shan Zhao	....	grip: China
Bing Gang Zhou	....	electrician: China
Jian Hua Zhu	....	grip: China
Po Zhu	....	grip: China
Richard Bradshaw	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ashleigh Carter	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Eran Dolev	....	high speed camera operator (uncredited)
Jayden York	....	libra head technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nikki Barrett	....	casting director: Australia
Emma Fletcher	....	extras casting assistant
Sharon Howard-Field	....	casting director: international (as Sharon Howard Field)
Rona Lamont	....	extras casting coordinator: Houston
Hai Bin Li	....	casting director: China
Andrew Olson	....	casting assistant: Houston
Andrew Olson	....	casting assistant: Houston
Nora Saliba	....	extras casting assistant
Dex Tallo	....	extras casting director
Zi Chen 'Miao Miao' Tang	....	assistant casting assistant director: China
Meng Wang	....	assistant casting assistant director: China
Yong Wang	....	assistant casting assistant director: China (as Yong Chun Wang)
Yu He Wang	....	assistant casting assistant director: China
Ju Jin Yang	....	assistant casting assistant director: China
Danny Long	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Brest	....	assistant stand-by costumer
Shi Yi Cao	....	translator: costume department, China
Mary Lou Da Roza	....	costume buyer (as Mary-Lou Da Roza)
Nicola Dunn	....	costume assistant
Roberta Elkins	....	wardrobe assistant: Houston (as Rpberta Elkins Smith)
Jamella Hassan	....	stand-by costumer
Fiona Holly	....	costume coordinator: ballet (as Fiona Holley)
Elly Kamal	....	costume supervisor
JaLene Thatcher Kambhu	....	wardrobe intern: Houston
Anne Kwok	....	costume attachment
Rona Lamont	....	costume supervisor: Houston
Xia Liu	....	costume assistant: China
Rong Xi Lu	....	costume assistant: China
Kellie Montgomery	....	costume assistant
Dan Owen	....	costume assistant
Damir Peranovic	....	extras costume coordinator
Kia Snell	....	costume maker
Jo Thorpe	....	costume cutter
Fei Tong	....	costume assistant: China
Jack Tung	....	costume department coordinator: China
Fu Zheng Wang	....	costume assistant: China
Joey Wang	....	translator: costume department, China
Lei Wang	....	costume assistant: China
Jian Li Wen	....	costume assistant: China
Hong Hui Xiang	....	costume supervisor: China
Penny Mackie	....	costumes (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kieran Bleakley	....	colorist: dailies
Luke Buckley	....	colorist: dailies
Trish Cahill	....	digital intermediate colorist
Chris Deng	....	telecine operator
Nancy Gup	....	film transfer coordinator
Ivan Huang	....	telecine operator
Bin Li	....	first assistant editor
Gordon MacPhail	....	head of digital intermediate
Darryl McKee	....	digital intermediate production liaison
Silvana Milat	....	digital intermediate production liaison
James Sdrinis	....	digital intermediate conformer
Nicholas Wagstaff	....	editing attachment

Music Department
Daniel Baker	....	music preparation
Craig Beckett	....	scoring crew
Laura Bishop	....	music preparation
Christo Curtis	....	music editor
Christo Curtis	....	score mixer
Michael Dauth	....	musician: violin
James Ezra	....	scoring crew
Christopher Gordon	....	music supervisor
Christopher Gordon	....	orchestrator
Kim Green	....	music licensing
Alex Henery	....	orchestra contractor
Lei Hu	....	musician: yangoin
Louise Johnson	....	musician: harp
James K. Lee	....	music preparation (as James Lee)
Clemens Leske	....	musician: piano
Lulu Liu	....	musician: pipa
Chai Chang Ning	....	musician: erhu and zhonghu
Emily Rogers Swanson	....	on-set music editor (as Emily Rogers)
Timothy Tan	....	musician: guzheng
Simon Tedeschi	....	musician: piano
Jessica Wells	....	music preparation
Natsuko Yashimoto	....	musician: violin
Tuang Zhang	....	musician: pipa

Transportation Department
Ken Defoor	....	picture car coordinator: Houston
Yun Long Gao	....	transportation unit manager: China
Jun Huang	....	transportation coordinator: China
Rick Malahy	....	driver: grips, Houston
Mark McKinley	....	vehicles coordinator
Dan Mohr	....	driver: grips, Houston
James Olvera	....	driver: insert car, Houston
Peng Zhang	....	transportation unit manager: China
Rob Flanagan	....	production driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jeremy Atcliffe	....	financial controller
Jason Ayshford	....	caterer: Lovo Catering
Soloman Bachman	....	production assistant: Houston (as Solomon Bachman)
Elizabeth Bethell	....	caterer: Lovo Catering
Craig Blair	....	caterer: Lovo Catering
Britta Brandt	....	stand-in
Craig Busch	....	location manager: Houston
Chang Zhi Cao	....	on-set production assistant: China
Li Zhou Cao	....	security: China
'Helen' Xiaohong Chen	....	accounts assistant: China
Scarlet Chen	....	production secretary: China
Wang Sheng Cheng	....	assistant chef: China
Shauna Cho	....	first assistant accountant: China
Reuben Crossman	....	credits designer
Reuben Crossman	....	poster designer
Reuben Crossman	....	title designer
Adrienne Dene	....	production assistant: Houston (as Adrian Dene Clayton)
Nigel Douglas	....	stand-in
Dana Du	....	translator: China
Carol Flaisher	....	location scout: USA
Julie E. Furnas	....	production assistant: Houston (as Julie Furnes)
Lucille Graham	....	production coordinator: Houston
Dong Dong Guo	....	on-set production assistant: China
Ling Yun Guo	....	on-set production assistant: China
Wei Guo	....	on-set production assistant: China
Lisa Hagenmeyer	....	location scout: USA
Andre Harris	....	production assistant: Houston
Lei 'Tommy' He	....	head caterer/chef: China
Katherine Heads	....	assistant to producer
Chloe Hu	....	production assistant: China
Simon Hu	....	on-set doctor: China
Ya Qing Hu	....	security: China
Michelle Hunt	....	subtitles: EFilm Australia
'Rebecca' Qin Jiang	....	script supervisor: China (as Rebecca Jiang)
Guo Qiang Jiang	....	assistant chef: China
Ken Jones	....	armorer
Jessica Kouteris	....	accounts assistant
Peter Lawless	....	location manager
Joy Lei Jia	....	production assistant: China (as Joy Lei)
Laura Lewis	....	production assistant: Houston
Dermot Leybourne	....	unit assistant
Cunxin Li	....	executive: Bell Potter
Guo Song Li	....	on-set production assistant: China
Jun Fa Li	....	security: China
Na Li	....	cashier: China
'Mary' Xin Jing Lin	....	production secretary: China
Hui Liu	....	assistant chef: China
Jin Ku Liu	....	security: China
Ning Ning Liu	....	on-set production assistant: China
Yan Chang Liu	....	location manager: China
Tao Ma	....	choreographer: China
Thomas Mack	....	motorcycle police coordinator: Houston
Tracey Mair	....	publicist
Jacqueline Marriott	....	stand-in
Anna McDonnell	....	assistant production coordinator
Anna McDonnell	....	travel coordinator
Jin Ying Meng	....	on-set doctor: China
Joan Meyer	....	catering coordinator: Houston
Victoria Mielewska	....	dialect coach
Jane Moroney	....	first assistant accountant
Kylie Muller	....	production accountant: China
Graeme Murphy	....	choreographer
Chris O'Connell	....	script supervisor (as Chrissie O'Connell)
John O'Connell	....	additional choreographer
Devin O'Rourke	....	production assistant: Houston (as Devon O'Roarke)
Dao Wen Pang	....	head chef: China
Luke Pavey	....	production runner
Laurence Pettinari	....	safety officer
Anna Marie Pitman	....	production secretary (as Anna-Marie Pitman)
Yan Ting Qu	....	on-set production assistant: China
Bruce Rieck	....	unit assistant
Eddie Rodriguez	....	production assistant: Houston
Diana Roijas	....	production assistant: Houston
Stephen Rutter	....	travel manager
Zhi Jun Sang	....	security: China
Carlos Santos	....	production runner
Grant Scicluna	....	assistant to director: second unit
Kieran Shevlin	....	unit assistant
Damien Silk	....	executive: Bell Potter
Michelle Simcoe	....	unit nurse
Robert Simper	....	safety report writer
Keith Smith	....	production assistant: Houston
Tina Steike	....	accountant: visual effects, Rising Sun Pictures
Billy Sun	....	on-set doctor: China
Song Nan Sun	....	on-set production assistant: China
Nick Teoh	....	stand-in (as Nicholas Teoh)
Janet Vernon	....	associate choreographer
Peter Vertzagias	....	unit assistant
Monique Vik	....	stand-in
Kelly Vincent	....	production coordinator
Simon von Oorde	....	unit assistant (as Simon van Oorde)
Eric Wang	....	on-set doctor: China
Fan Wang	....	assistant to director: China
Meng Wang	....	on-set production assistant: China
Steven Wang	....	on-set doctor: China
Zhong-jun Wang	....	production assistant: China (as Zhong Jun Wang)
Donna Watkins	....	craft service: Houston
Vaughan Webber	....	executive: Bell Potter
George Wilson	....	production runner
Katherine Wood	....	production coordinator: China
Er Song Xiao	....	on-set production assistant: China
Jian Qi Xiao	....	security: China
Xiao Song Xiao	....	on-set production assistant: China
Hao Ran Xu	....	security: China
Dong Dong Xuan	....	security: China
Ji Chao Xuan	....	on-set production assistant: China
Yuan He Xuan	....	head runner: China
Yuan Shui Xuan	....	on-set production assistant: China
Fu Qiang Zhang	....	on-set production assistant: China
Helen Zhang	....	craft service: China
Hui Zhang	....	assistant chef: China
Lei Zhang	....	production assistant: China
Zong Jun Zhang	....	assistant chef: China
Tian Ye Zhou	....	location manager: China
Sam Anderson	....	stage manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Ye Chen	....	special thanks (as Lily Foster)
Charles Foster	....	special thanks
Preston Frazier	....	special thanks
Cunxin Li	....	special thanks
Elizabeth Mackey	....	special thanks (as Elizabeth Mackey-Bigelow)
Mary McKendry	....	special thanks
Hengameh Panahi	....	special thanks
Ben Stevenson	....	special thanks
Lujun Wang	....	special thanks (as Lujun 'The Bandit' Wang)

Production Companies

• Great Scott Productions Pty. Ltd.

Distributors

• Roadshow Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• ATO Pictures (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hopscotch Entertainment (2010) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Nu Metro Cinemas (2010) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Capelight Pictures (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Cinematográfica Blancica (CB) (2013) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• Filmtrade (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Hexagon (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (DVD)
• California Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Media International Pictures (2010) (United Arab Emirates) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2011) (Canada) (DVD)
• Odessa Entertainment (2011) (Japan) (DVD)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2010) (USA) (all media)
• Valentim de Carvalho Multimédia (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Rising Sun Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bates Security Company  security: Houston (as Bates Security)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• China Film Assist  production services: China
• City Recital Hall Angel Place  music recorded at
• De Lane Lea  additional adr
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• EFilm Australia  dailies transfers
• EFilm Australia  digital intermediate
• First Australian Completion Bond Company (FACB)  completion guarantor
• HW Wood Australia  insurance broker
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Lovo Catering  catering
• Loyd Hart Entertainment Lawyers  production lawyers
• Outpost Film Studios  additional adr (as OutPost Studios)
• Rosenfeld Kant & Co.  auditors
• Showfilm  travel agent
• Showfilm  travel
• Soundfirm Beijing Co.  dailies transfers: China
• Soundfirm Beijing Co.  sound post-production (as Soundfirm China)
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films  picture editing facility
• Trackdown Scoring Stage  music recorded at
• VisionsMCP  lead casting
• Widget Post Production  additional adr

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for a brief violent image, some sensuality, language and incidental smoking

Runtime:

Canada:117 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:117 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG (certificate #46105) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Malaysia:PG-13 | Japan:G | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Mexico:A

Filming Locations:

Acer Arena, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Great Scott Productions Pty. Ltd.

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" (1990).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Li's teacher gave him a video cassette so Li could watch ballets performed by Russian dancers. VCRs only became popular in the west in the mid seventies. It would be impossible for the teacher to have his own copy of video tape in China in the early seventies.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding (2011)

Soundtrack:

The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Primtemps)

inspiring story and a truly brilliant movie

To be honest, I've never actually finished Li's book. I had the vague idea its about a boy from my hometown that went on to become one of the best ballet dancers, but then, being a Chinese immigrant myself, I'm not particularly pleased with people 'cashing in' on their stories. After all, his story, in fact, was of particular interests to westerners because of the clashes of cultural identities between two worlds, which i and many thousands if not millions more overseas Chinese experience everyday. But after watching the movie, I have to say I loved it. The directing truly captured the struggle of a man torn apart between what 'ought to do' and what 'should do'.

I was born in Qingdao, China.So the connection between me and Li's story is very strong. Mr. Li is just about my parent's generation, so in a way, I can see his struggle in my own world, everyday. Qingdao is never short of artistic talent, to many, artistic talent is the only way out. 'There's no national boundaries in art', my parents used to tell me. When I was five my parents bought me my first piano, which cost them an entire year's savings, but it was seen as a valuable investment, 'art will pave the way to success', they used to say. Like my classmates in the piano class, I used to rise up 5 in the morning and practice until its time to go to school, only to come home then stay practicing until 10. Going to Beijing and to study in one of the national music academy would be many of my fellow classmate's dream. I can feel the pride Li's parents had when he went to America, I can also feel the pain he felt when he decided to stay in America. To Li and many others, to become what he was when he went to Beijing would be everything anyone could ever wanted. What more can he hope to achieve? He could've been the best ballet teacher in China, with fame and fortune to boot, but he threw all that away because of love and freedom. I don't believe it was because of money or fame, it was simply a choice made in a heartbeat by a young man who believes in himself.Was it selfish? I don't know. I'm confronted with this question everyday while I'm in Australia, to many Chinese and spectators, Li's action is selfish indeed, abandoning his duties, his parents and his place in the society pursuing freedom and love in a westerner's world. But the longer I stayed in western world, the harder I ponder that question, what is duty? and more importantly, what is a son's duty to his parents? to his nation? The value system is obviously very different back then, Li, who's seeking individual happiness didn't fit into a collective society like China. But, he also had the fortune to be plucked, trained and nurtured to become what he was. Should he repay his 'debt' by going back to China? or should he capitalise on what he has gained and achieve greater personal glory? It's easy to answer for anyone in a particular value group, but for Li and many Chinese overseas, it can be a life-long dilemma. After all, Li's fortunate enough to be sitting comfortably somewhere in Australia writing his book, many buried talents are somewhere in a dusted corner in China tutoring next generations of wannabe talents. But his fortune also comes from perseverance and handwork, from a heart to pursue what he truly believes in. To that end, the movie tells a brilliant story of a brave young man.