"They
don't make them like they use to, " you hear time and time again but
with this movie they won't say that anymore as this is the way they use
to make movies. "Mao's Last Dancer" touches you, teaches you, takes you
behind the scenes of politics in countries, the world of ballet and
shows you love and family.

This is a true story based on the book by Li Cunxin who was brought to America from China as one of the first exchange students between the two countries to join the Houston Ballet.

I
understand his defection made international headlines but I must admit I
never heard the story nor, did it seem, did the rest of the audience I
saw it with. Okay, shame faced, I will admit I never heard of Li. He is
played as an 11 year old in a backwards Chinese town by Huang Wenbin, then as a teenager in Beijing by Guo Chengwu, who is a graduate of the Beijing ballet academy and, finally, as the young man who comes to Houston played by Chi Cao,
who, in real life, is a principal dancer with England's Birmingham
Royal Ballet and all do a good job in their multiple rolls of acting 
dancing and showing the athleticism it takes to be a dancer.

As
in the 'good old days' there are some obvious 'Hollywood' touches in
the screenplay but it those touches that brings the tears flowing when
they should.

There is certainly  a lot more to the story than the defection of a ballet dancer and besides the outstanding acting by Bruce Greenward as the artistic director of the Houston ballet and Kyle MacLachlan along with the rest of the cast, the dancing sequences, the soundtrack,
the production values recreating the 80s there isn't a false move in
front of or behind the cameras.

This
has been the best movie I have seen this year and though it is having a
limited release take the time to search for it and see it.