Stepping High

When you think of it, there are only a few major plot lines, it's how the movie comes together that makes a difference. Yes, this is about over-coming adversity, cultural differences etc. but I found it enjoyable. For me, the best surprise was a dance movie casting in the lead someone who can REALLY dance! Often, it's an actor who can fake it a bit, then they use editing or body doubles. The lead actress in this movies is both a terrific dancer, in many styles, but also a wonderful actress. If you are a dancer trying to watch a dance movie with terrible dancing, it takes away of the enjoyment of watching it. Unfortunately, the actors who portray the students fit the category of dancers who try to act, some with better results than others. That was bothersome, but I was willing to over-look that as the rest of the cast was strong and many scenes were portrayed realistically. I was drawn in by the family interaction, and felt they rose above caricatures. It wasn't hard to figure out where the plot was going, but the journey was definitely worth my time. Some scenes, such as the dance teacher's introduction of dance to these students was memorable.

It even almost made me cry by the end. I had actual tears forming in my eyes which i had to hold back. It's inspiring and has idealistic morals and values. I loved the dancing and how much i learned from dance history and different types of dance and also the fact that it is mixed with the Persian language and ways of doing or thinking. These issues are real in some families therefore they are treated here with honesty. The above opinion seems to me boasted and exaggerated criticism. It seems to me people here are used to watching movies only through American glasses. They expect all movies to be the same. And most Americans have no clue of what really goes on within the families in the clashing cultures of this "melting pot" unless they happen to be dating or dealing with this specific community or different communities. The acting and directing was on point otherwise i would have lost attention and would not have given it my time. But i watched it till the end because it is gripping. This movie has the feel of a musical but it makes fun of boxed way of thinking which is pretty engraved in this culture exactly because of other movies, and how subjects are treated. Some competitive mainstream remarks that make kids nowadays, and not only kids, come of ditsy without even understanding where is their problem. Maybe the priest did overreact and it has an out of touch level of reality yet it is a dance movie therefore may come off a bit as a musical sort of acting, as if doing ballet. Nevertheless it hits interesting existing points that may not be expressed out-loud by educated individuals but yet whispered among people.

Sima (Palmer Davis) is a 32 year old washed up dancer who scores a job as a teacher with her class in balance of being lost if one student drops out. She teaches a somewhat diverse group of kids who seem to know dance already. She has to deal with conflict and anyone who has seen "Footlosse" knows the formula. Sima is of Iranian decent and deals with conflict at home. The film is far from gritty. The conflict was fairly docile. There is a hall fight with some pushing and we see bruises on a couple of people from domestic abuse, something that goes nowhere. The script was rather weak. If you want to see kids dance, then this is a great film. If you are looking for a plot for adults, this isn't it. The film might work for the tween crowd. No bad language, sex, or nudity.

this film ,in general, is barely watchable due to the badly scripted and crafted screenplay and not exciting directing. casting jobs were about 50/50 good/bad. the storyline felt contritely primitive and one-directional boring. the principal, the reverend and most of supporting roles were overly exaggeratedly barbaric and out of the touch with the modern day value. treating immigrants as possible terrorists was also felt contrite and out dated, looked stupid and ridiculous. the dance class was not bad, but also felt a bit naive and shallow, albeit interesting. a typical lukewarm product from a very loose uninspiring screenplay with a so-so director. a young lady from a die-hard conservative Iranian family, grew up and struggled between a dilemma of traditional culture and modern day American way of life and thinking was also a overly used cliché scenario. this is just a passably watchable film that do need some patience to sit through.