MAO’S LAST DANCER - Sydney premiere
The Australian feature film Mao’s Last Dancer tells the inspirational true story of Li Cunxin. Adapted from his best-selling autobiography and telling how, amidst the chaos of Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution, he was chosen to leave his peasant family and sent on an amazing journey… as it turned out, a journey towards freedom and personal triumph.
Li’s story unfolds as China was emerging from Chairman Mao’s Grand Vision. It could not have been a better time for Li Cunxin to discover the West and for the West to discover Li Cunxin. This film is about how Li overcame adversity through discovering and exploring his natural abilities and talent as a great classical dancer. This meant not only dealing with his own physical limitations but also eventually the punishment meted out by a highly suspicious Chinese government after Li’s defection to the US.
In America Li found a completely different and captivating new world – but there were other difficulties he could never have imagined. Even with the support of many friends there was still isolation and despite his growing fame there was still uncertainty for his future.
Acclaimed producer, Jane Scott (Shine, Head On), has assembled an impressive team to create a movie of this poignant yet triumphant story. Directed by twice Academy Award nominated director Bruce Beresford (Breaker Morant, Driving Miss Daisy) from a stunning adaptation by screenwriter Jan Sardi (Shine, The Notebook, Love’s brother).
The film stars Chi Cao and Chengwu Guo as Li Cunxin (adult and teenager), Joan Chen, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Jack Thompson, Amanda Scchull, Camilla Vergotis, Steven Heathcote, Madeleine Eastoe, and dancers of The Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company.
The Friends of The Australian Ballet, together with The Australian Ballet’s Special Events Committee hosted the world premiere of this highly anticipated film at the State Theatre on Monday 21st September 2009.
For more information, please click here
To visit the film’s website please click here
