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Desert Dancer never finds an agreeable rhythm, resulting in a musical drama that doesn't deliver on the promised spectacle or political commentary.
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All Critics (43) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (29)
It is montage heavy and toe-curlingly naive. April 21, 2016 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
It is montage heavy and toe-curlingly naive.
Wendy Ide
There would seem to be only one thing that the act of dancing cannot free the characters in Desert Dancer from, and that's the movie they're in. April 17, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
There would seem to be only one thing that the act of dancing cannot free the characters in Desert Dancer from, and that's the movie they're in.
Geoff Pevere
Desert Dancer strays too frequently into melodrama to have much sticking power. April 16, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Desert Dancer strays too frequently into melodrama to have much sticking power.
Linda Barnard
In his feature film debut, director Richard Raymond keeps the story moving despite some dramatic cliches. April 10, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
In his feature film debut, director Richard Raymond keeps the story moving despite some dramatic cliches.
Mary Houlihan
Its depiction of the internal tensions in Iranian politics and culture is not what you'd call super-nuanced, but it is sympathetic to Iran as an entity. April 10, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Its depiction of the internal tensions in Iranian politics and culture is not what you'd call super-nuanced, but it is sympathetic to Iran as an entity.
Glenn Kenny
Reece Ritchie brings heart to the lead role, particularly in the decisive solo performance that caps the film. But that sequence is as expressive and alive as the rest of the supposedly movement-loving drama is static. April 9, 2015 | Full Review…
Reece Ritchie brings heart to the lead role, particularly in the decisive solo performance that caps the film. But that sequence is as expressive and alive as the rest of the supposedly movement-loving drama is static.
Sheri Linden
On a grand scale, Ghaffarian's story of putting his life on the line to create art is poignant and inspirational. It's a stirring reminder of art's true vitality. March 14, 2019 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
On a grand scale, Ghaffarian's story of putting his life on the line to create art is poignant and inspirational. It's a stirring reminder of art's true vitality.
Bernard Boo
Bogged down by trying to be two very separate things and dragging its plot for a bit more time than it should have. A film with a lot of potential, but unfortunately underwhelming. August 14, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
Bogged down by trying to be two very separate things and dragging its plot for a bit more time than it should have. A film with a lot of potential, but unfortunately underwhelming.
Mae Abdulbaki
We didn't need a pseudo-Persian Footloose to imagine dance as a means of political resistance, but surely there's no harm in drawing inspiration from [Andrew] Ghaffarian's bravely creative life. August 24, 2017 | Full Review…
We didn't need a pseudo-Persian Footloose to imagine dance as a means of political resistance, but surely there's no harm in drawing inspiration from [Andrew] Ghaffarian's bravely creative life.
Jonathan Kiefer
With robotic depictions of Iran's 'morality police', the political subtext is strictly one-dimensional. But with ace choreographer Akram Khan on board, the dancing is powerful. January 2, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
With robotic depictions of Iran's 'morality police', the political subtext is strictly one-dimensional. But with ace choreographer Akram Khan on board, the dancing is powerful.
James Mottram
Raymond might sometimes hit his beats too hard but he does keep his eye on the bigger picture. August 7, 2016 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Raymond might sometimes hit his beats too hard but he does keep his eye on the bigger picture.
Amber Wilkinson
Characters' brief moments of freedom are stirringly depicted in Richard Raymond's based-on-fact bio-picture, Desert Dancer. May 20, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Characters' brief moments of freedom are stirringly depicted in Richard Raymond's based-on-fact bio-picture, Desert Dancer.
Joe Bendel
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