German title: Maos letzter Tänzer Francaise title: Le dernier danseur de Mao Spain title: El último bailarín de Mao Greek title: Ο τελευταίος χορευτής του Μάο Russian title: Последний танцор Мао Original title: Mao’s Last Dancer
Alternative titles: Последний танцор Мао | O teleftaios horeftis tou Mao | El prodigio
Biography – Australia Production year: 2008 Movie length: 117 minutes
Director: Bruce Beresford Writer: Jan Sardi, Cunxin Li Cinematograph: Peter James Music: Christopher Gordon
Movie description:
In a village of China, the eleven year-old Li Cunxin is selected by the Comunist Party to study ballet at the Madame Mao’s Dance Academy in Beijing. Years later, he travels to Houston in a cultural exchange program invited by the artistic director Ben Stevenson and he is promoted to principal dancer of the Houston Ballet. Meanwhile he secretly dates and falls in love with the dancer Elizabeth Mackey. When the China’s government asks Li Cunxin to return to his country, he marries Liz and defects to USA. He is forbidden to return to China and has no news of his parents and family. Meanwhile, his marriage with Liz ends and he misses his parents. But five years later, he has a great surprise during a performance.