This is a very remarkable documentary movie. A large group of underprivileged kids and teens is brought together in a dancing project. They are to dance to Sacre du Printemps by Stravinsky, not the easiest music anyway. Most of them had never before been to a classical concert. Now they will dance accompanied by the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra. In the first week one doesn´t really believe that this will work well. Some kids find it hard, some even almost unbearable. However, they keep track. The dancing teacher, Royston, speaks their language, because he himself worked his way up from a very difficult social environment. Sometimes his tone is rough, almost rude, but at the same time he transports the aura of a firm belief in these kids. The result is amazing and very touching. The project is a huge success. And you can see the joy in the eyes of children who were never praised or applauded to before, and what it means to them to have achieved all this. Go see it! You´d be sorry if you missed it.
5 Reviews
Very honest, very important, very good
CommanderVimes30 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I just read the critical comment on "Rhythm is it" and simply had the need to say that this guy didn't understand neither the movie's intention nor the message.
Obviously he is a big Stravinsky fan, so maybe this kept his focus on the musical part. The choreographer, on the other hand, was, as he pointed out to the worried teacher, more interested in education than in art. This is not a Stravinsky musical, it's about working with frustrated young people, giving them more self confidence, a feeling for the need of discipline and hard work, a feeling of what "real" fun is about, making them feel comfortable with their body, with themselves, and so with other people.
I'm a primary school teacher for music, and I found so many of my thoughts in this movie. That Norwegian guy is obviously more interested in art than in education, so he watched many touching and honest moments of this film with pure cynicism. "It's all fake!" I don't think so.
"The children didn't change at all". Not true either. You can literally watch the spots on the girl's face disappear through the movie, because she begins to feel better about herself, and so begins to look more healthy on the outside.
Martin, who never liked touching anyone and didn't feel at home inside his body, now wants to become a dancer or an acrobat.
And the black boy was not a cliché in any way. I never had the feeling that anybody told him anything of what he said. It was just his hard way of life that brought him his wisdom and his need for more learning. It's not his fault that he is a contrast to many German children, who don't like to learn and work hard anymore (sad but true, trust me). And I think he is perfectly right when he says that most Germans (Europeans) don't care about their culture. And if he wants to stay in contact to his roots by dancing with a friend, what's so wrong about that?!
All in all it's a great movie with a very important message: Find out what you want and work hard for it. Believe in yourself and never be satisfied with what you already achieved, you can always learn more. Just when you feel good with yourself you can have good relationships with other people. And people who laugh at you while you are learning, are probably not your friends.
Obviously he is a big Stravinsky fan, so maybe this kept his focus on the musical part. The choreographer, on the other hand, was, as he pointed out to the worried teacher, more interested in education than in art. This is not a Stravinsky musical, it's about working with frustrated young people, giving them more self confidence, a feeling for the need of discipline and hard work, a feeling of what "real" fun is about, making them feel comfortable with their body, with themselves, and so with other people.
I'm a primary school teacher for music, and I found so many of my thoughts in this movie. That Norwegian guy is obviously more interested in art than in education, so he watched many touching and honest moments of this film with pure cynicism. "It's all fake!" I don't think so.
"The children didn't change at all". Not true either. You can literally watch the spots on the girl's face disappear through the movie, because she begins to feel better about herself, and so begins to look more healthy on the outside.
Martin, who never liked touching anyone and didn't feel at home inside his body, now wants to become a dancer or an acrobat.
And the black boy was not a cliché in any way. I never had the feeling that anybody told him anything of what he said. It was just his hard way of life that brought him his wisdom and his need for more learning. It's not his fault that he is a contrast to many German children, who don't like to learn and work hard anymore (sad but true, trust me). And I think he is perfectly right when he says that most Germans (Europeans) don't care about their culture. And if he wants to stay in contact to his roots by dancing with a friend, what's so wrong about that?!
All in all it's a great movie with a very important message: Find out what you want and work hard for it. Believe in yourself and never be satisfied with what you already achieved, you can always learn more. Just when you feel good with yourself you can have good relationships with other people. And people who laugh at you while you are learning, are probably not your friends.
Find your life
mcchung5 December 2004
You can find your life in a dance class!! 250 young adolescents, who have never danced before, and a lot of them come from the lower class in the society, some even exiled from other countries, will dance to the Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps". The new conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle, leads the project. He believes that the music, the classic music, is not only for people from higher class of the society, but belongs to all people. It is just like water and air, people need music to live.
The life in the movie!! If young people with low self-estimation dance, what would happen? Can you find your lack of self confidence in your way of dancing? The most attracting part of this movie describes the most deepest ego in the human-being, even when you move, you will show your character immediately. Through the dancing in a modern ballet, the adolescents find their power, their values that they have never had in their life, some of them even want to be a professional dancer.
What a wonderful movie!! Only thinking of the changing of children will touch me deeply. I really recommend it. 10/10
The life in the movie!! If young people with low self-estimation dance, what would happen? Can you find your lack of self confidence in your way of dancing? The most attracting part of this movie describes the most deepest ego in the human-being, even when you move, you will show your character immediately. Through the dancing in a modern ballet, the adolescents find their power, their values that they have never had in their life, some of them even want to be a professional dancer.
What a wonderful movie!! Only thinking of the changing of children will touch me deeply. I really recommend it. 10/10
One of the best documentaries.
alex-plamper29 October 2004
This docu is a great one. The story: How several schools in Berlin with pupils of low social status and dance students are brought to dance Le Sacre du Printemps with the Berlin Philharmonics under Sir Simon Rattle. The movie picks several students and follows them as the weeks progress. You learn about their characters and how they cope with this new situation. You also get to know the choreographer and of course the conductor Sir Simon Rattle. For example how the dynamic and energy flows from the orchestra through the conductor is the way Simon Rattle gets his high. The choreographer tells about his upbringing, how he came to love dancing. It is really a great documentary, funny and interesting.
Must See Documentary
info-959228 November 2007
i had the pleasure to see Rhythm IS IT very early and was touched deep inside. i'm glad more people over here get to the point of the story - yet. when the first and only comment over here was the one of mr. devold i was disappointed a little. he watched the movie from a different angle, i'm sure.
Simon Rattle & Royston Maldoom (choreographer) did such a gorgeous job. it's a pleasure to see the intention of those kids changing. for those might have any doubts about, i ensure you no one was told of what to do or say.
this is not michael more, not docu-fiction it is a documentary.
Simon Rattle & Royston Maldoom (choreographer) did such a gorgeous job. it's a pleasure to see the intention of those kids changing. for those might have any doubts about, i ensure you no one was told of what to do or say.
this is not michael more, not docu-fiction it is a documentary.
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