Cert 15
102 mins
BBFC advice: Contains drug use, moderate violence
The true story of Afshin Ghaffarian is so fascinating that it really doesn't need to be meddled with.
So why have the makers of Desert Dancer left out Mulheim an der Ruhr in Germany, a city close to my heart, when it was so pivotal to his story?
Instead it has been replaced, for absolutely no good reason, with Paris.
I'm sorry but I feel I should start a campaign around the needless changing of facts in movies which are based on true stories.
Of course, I understand the need for dramatic embellishment because it means a movie can attract bigger audiences but what was there to gain from changing a small German city to a big French one?
Ghaffarian's story begins in Iran where he grew up and became interested in dance as a schoolboy.
However, his passion was frowned upon by the strict Iranian authorities who feel that dance offends their religious laws.
Richard Raymond's film then cuts to a few years later when Ghaffarian sets up a secret dance group at his university in Tehran.
And, he doubly risks clashing with the authorities by joining the rallies in support of the reformist presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi.
Their political views see him and his friends receive brutal beatings but his plans for the dance group to perform publicly, albeit in the desert, could lead to him being imprisoned.
Desert Dancer has a compelling narrative with the constant need for secrecy over what we would take for granted in the west.
Reece Ritchie is a passionate lead, alongside Freida Pinto. The two also join together for some nifty dance work and there is a parallel plot about drug addiction.
So where does Mulheim/Paris play a part in Ghaffarian's history? You will need to watch the movie to find out.
Reasons to watch: engrossing true story
Reasons to avoid: some of the suspense could have been ratcheted up
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Star tweet
Tonight!! Go see Desert Dancer in the cinema. Don't wait!! Based on a fantastic true story! Let me know what you think!! X
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