[Film] Feel the Beat

Watched on: 03/29/2024

Reviewed on: 04/05/2024

Director: Elissa Down

This story follows a Broadway hopeful named April who returns to her small-town roots in Wisconsin. There, she reluctantly begins training a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition.

I really like the way the details are handled in this story. For example, during the preliminary competition, when the teacher shows off her own skills and treats her students like props, I wonder if it would be illogical for the director to let this team win. But if they lose, how would the story continue? When the director had them placed fourth and then disqualified one of the top three teams due to a rule violation, I started to feel that this could turn into an interesting story.

In this dance-themed story, the proverb "Style is the man himself." resonates, as the film also uses the progression and presentation of dance choreography to demonstrate April's growth and transformation. The initial dances in the film exude an alluring charm, with fashionable attire that also creates a sense of distance. No matter who is dancing next to her, my eyes will be attracted by her dancing posture. A turning point happened when she fell on stage, and another person helped her turn this accident into a unique moment. From my perspective, that dance is the climax of the entire movie. April went from a very perfect daner to a real character. In the final performance, April's choreography seamlessly interacted with the children, and her attire changed into a classic blue. The dance becomes soft and warm, exuding a gentle and inviting atmosphere.

Maybe the world doesn't lack technically perfect dancers; instead, it longs for genuine dancers who can foster empathy and connection with the audience through their interactions with fellow dancers on stage.