First Position (2011)
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Reviews Counted: 70
Fresh: 66 | Rotten: 4
An upbeat and visually dramatic documentary of children's ballet, First Position displays the potential of the human spirit when fostered at a young age.
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 27
Fresh: 26 | Rotten: 1
An upbeat and visually dramatic documentary of children's ballet, First Position displays the potential of the human spirit when fostered at a young age.
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Every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman's award-winning documentary, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of
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All Critics (70) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (4)
Undeniably effective as drama, as we ponder the varying degrees of ambition and talent driving these young people to push their bodies beyond the limit in the hope of grasping a future in the spotlight.
Top CriticIt does a great job developing its characters through its visuals - these are superphysical kids - and honing in on family dynamics.
If you have a yearning to feel awkward, inadequate and lazy, watching the whirling teenage (and preteen) talents in director Bess Kargman's First Position will do the trick.
When it's over, you won't remember so much about who won and who lost. Instead, what remains is the expression on a young dancer's face, reflected in a mirror: showing the joy of being in love with what you do.
A number of the performances are plain stunning - Aran and Joan, in particular, seem born to move - and in many ways watching the movie is like watching a sporting event; there are winners and losers and favorites to cheer on.
It's an intense journey, and Kargman captures it all, down to the dancers' bloodied and bruised feet.
The joy of watching lies in the purity of the dancer's passion.
A superior example of the genre, it concentrates on six young dancers from around the world ...
Like the engaging hit documentary Spellbound, this dance competition film gets under the skin and holds us in its grip like a well-crafted thriller.
Anyone with an interest in dance should enjoy this documentary ...
Settles for heartwarming "follow your dreams" platitudes rather than following the cold realities of being a dancer.
It's humane, involving and inspirational.
A blandly feelgood documentary about aspiring young ballet dancers.
A griping documentary following several ballet hopefuls as they prepare for an international competition.
Impressively directed and superbly edited, this is an emotionally engaging documentary with likeable subjects, stunning dance sequences and a suspenseful climax.
If you thought Black Swan made ballet look grim, this festival-fave documentary offers an earthier but no less griping portrait of the profession's crippling realities.
A touching look at ballet's battle-hardened youngsters.
If this film doesn't put a smile on your face, you are too hard to please.
Hopes are shared and dreams expressed during this uplifting journey in which we become involved in each of the dancers' lives. As a consequence, we have a stake in what happens and are often moved as a result of the drama and tension
Debut director Bess Kargman establishes herself as a skilled documentarian, drawing out humour and tension from the contestants' experiences without manipulating their stories for melodramatic effect.
First time director Bess Kargman has done a great job with this film in letting the personalities of these dancers and their families shine through.
It's enjoyable watching the motivated youngsters pirouetting their way to success.
An arresting documentary about the dedication and sacrifice it takes to be able to spin around like a whirling dervish on the tip of your toes without getting sickeningly dizzy.
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Foreign Titles
- Le Concours de danse (FR)
