Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: First Position

This is topic First Position in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 04-27-2013, 08:03 PM:

The Youth America Grand Prix is the world's largest amateur dance competition. 5000 entrants from around the world will enter the competition of which 200 will make the finals in New York. Major dance schools and professional ballet companies will be represented at the meet, offering scholarships and contracts to the best of the best. With only 5 minutes to impress the judges, the pressure on the dancers is immense as those precious few minutes can make or break their career.

First time film maker, Bess Kargman, follows eight children from 11 years old to 17 as they prepare for the showdown. They speak of their life long obsession; the sacrifices they have made in their schooling and social life; the intense training and the pain and injury they have endured. Some viewers will no doubt see this as a form of child abuse, others will see it as the pursuit of excellence; the participants clearly see it as the latter.

Each child is chosen for their unique personal story. Rebecca is the archetypal ballerina: slim, beautiful, graceful, long blonde hair - her friends call her "Barbie" - and above all else extremely talented but even she is not ensured a professional future in the ballet game. Joan is from an impoverished family in Columbia fighting almost impossible odds to compete at the highest level. His story is truly an inspiring one. But the principle focus is on Michaela, a civil war survivor from Sierra Leone, adopted from three years old by a white American family. Michaela's dark skin and vitiligo making her an unusual candidate for a life of ballet, almost ensuring that hurdles of race and convention will be stacked before her. A Google search reveals that all three continue into careers of distinction, although Rebecca has since decided to forego the unassured life of a professional dancer, opting for a science degree instead.

Kargman's film is a highly inspiring one, showcasing amazing athleticism and courage and the agonising presentation ceremony at the conclusion of the film is a measure of the audience's emotional investment in the films subjects.

It's easy to completely lose yourself in documentaries about the trials and achievements of children and like Mad Hot Ballroom and Spellbound before it, First Position is no exception.

9 out of 10