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IMDbPro

The Dancer Upstairs

  • 2002
  • R
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
Javier Bardem and Laura Morante in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
Pre, "Coming Soon"
Play trailer0:34
2 Videos
15 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader.A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader.A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader.

  • Director
    • John Malkovich
  • Writer
    • Nicholas Shakespeare
  • Stars
    • Javier Bardem
    • Laura Morante
    • Juan Diego Botto
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    6.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Malkovich
    • Writer
      • Nicholas Shakespeare
    • Stars
      • Javier Bardem
      • Laura Morante
      • Juan Diego Botto
    • 77User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    The Dancer Upstairs
    Trailer 0:34
    Watch The Dancer Upstairs
    The Dancer Upstairs
    Trailer 2:14
    Watch The Dancer Upstairs

    Photos15

    Javier Bardem in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    John Malkovich and Javier Bardem in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    Javier Bardem and Laura Morante in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    Javier Bardem and Laura Morante in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    Javier Bardem and Juan Diego Botto in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    Javier Bardem and Laura Morante in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    John Malkovich in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    John Malkovich and Javier Bardem at an event for The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
    John Malkovich at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival makes his directorial debut with the film "The Dancer Upstairs."
    John Malkovich at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival makes his directorial debut with the film "The Dancer Upstairs."
    John Malkovich at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival makes his directorial debut with the film "The Dancer Upstairs."
    John Malkovich at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival makes his directorial debut with the film "The Dancer Upstairs."

    Top cast

    Edit
    Javier Bardem
    Javier Bardem
    • Agustín
    Laura Morante
    Laura Morante
    • Yolanda
    Juan Diego Botto
    Juan Diego Botto
    • Sucre
    Elvira Mínguez
    Elvira Mínguez
    • Llosa
    Alexandra Lencastre
    Alexandra Lencastre
    • Sylvina
    Oliver Cotton
    Oliver Cotton
    • Merino
    Luís Miguel Cintra
    Luís Miguel Cintra
    • Calderón
    Javier Manrique
    Javier Manrique
    • Clorindo
    Abel Folk
    Abel Folk
    • Ezequiel(Durán)
    Marie-Anne Berganza
    • Laura
    Lucas Rodríguez
    • Gómez
    Xabier Elorriaga
    Xabier Elorriaga
    • Pascual
    Natalia Dicenta
    Natalia Dicenta
    • Marina
    Wolframio Sinué
    Wolframio Sinué
    • Santiago
    Ramiro Jiménez
    • Sergeant Pisac
    Montserrat Astudillo
    • Edith Pusanga
    Galo Urbina
    • Indian 1 in Pick-up
    Jairon Flores
    • Indian 2 in Pick-up
    • Director
      • John Malkovich
    • Writer
      • Nicholas Shakespeare
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • 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 city of 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 Gen. Antonio Ketin Vidal, the leading figures responsible for Guzmán's capture.
    • Goofs
      When Sucre & Llosa arrest the young woman in orange, she has been handcuffed to the ceiling of the car. But then en route, soldiers simply drag her out of the backseat. No handcuff keys. No bolt cutters.
    • Quotes

      Agustín Rejas: I'd like to have a list of staff with access to the President's chambers.

      Calderón: Luckily there are only two of them. The first is named 'Fuck', the second is named 'Off'.

    • Crazy credits
      The producers would like to thank ... the residents of Narcisos Street ...
    • Connections
      Featured in Revealing 'the Dancer Upstairs' (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Viagens Interditas
      (1995)

      Written by Pedro Malgheas (as Pedro Ayres) and Rodrigo Leão

      Performed by Madredeus

      Licensed by Dpte. de Productos Especiales de

      (p) EMI Odean, S.A., Madrid, Spain, 2001 exclusive rights holder

    User reviews77

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Bardem great
    It's Latin America in the Recent Past. Agustín Rejas (Javier Bardem) is a Sergeant manning a road check. The country is corrupt with a militaristic Presidency. Rejas is a former lawyer ready for a promotion in the capital. A mysterious man with others and a dead dog in a truck escape the checkpoint. Then it's five years later. He's a police Lieutenant. With his young partner Sucre (Juan Diego Botto), he's investigating a mysterious revolutionary group led by Ezequiel. They hang dogs from the lamp posts. The violence escalates as leaders get assassinated. Yolanda (Laura Morante) is Rejas' daughter Laura's dance teacher. He begins an affair with her as he suspects her connection to Ezequiel.

    The non-specificity of the time and place could have been improved by weaving the real story into this movie. It doesn't have to be perfect and most movies aren't real biographies anyways. The great aspect of this is Bardem and the sense of Latin America that this projects. John Malkovich is directing for the first time and he shows some competency. It is well-made and most importantly, he focuses on Bardem. The story does leave some questions. The ballet teacher's connections to everyone is very convenient. The investigation is not that clear. I don't know how nebulous the book is but adapting may have left something out of the movie. It would help to have great clarity, and better intensity.
    helpful•6
    0
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Dec 28, 2016

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 23, 2003 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Quechua
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Üst Kattaki Dansçı
    • Filming locations
      • Lisbon, Portugal
    • Production companies
      • Searchlight Pictures
      • Lolafilms
      • Mr. Mudd
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,377,348
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $106,142
      • May 4, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,227,348
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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