Rize
I saw Rize on Sunday night. It's a documentary with a fascinating subject: hip-hop dancing clowns as an alternative to gang violence in the inner city. It's not really hip-hop, but a dance style called 'krumping' which is fast, intense, and aggressive.
Ebert's review of the movie is more of a backgrounder on the topic.
There's a montage of archival footage of African tribal dances and krumping that makes you raise your eyebrows at the obvious similarities. Particularly the makeup on the faces. Henna tattoos and clown paint, but they are not so different, really.
The links between the dances and the community is alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming. Most of these kids come from troubled homes, and they latch onto the dance family fiercely--even if the father figure is a literally a clown.
The director has a definite point of view. He's got some issues to highlight, a story to tell, and even though he's not using narration he makes sure that you understand what he thinks about it. Some people may resist this, because otherwise his story telling style is neutral, and it doesn't seem to jive. However, if you go see a Michael Moore film, or go see Super Size Me, the bias is up front, and you expect it.
The one fault this film has is in its visual style. The director is a photographer, so he can't resist using great lighting and commercial-quality setups, even when it contradicts the humble origins of the dance. It has the effect of making the dancers and the dancing into objects or products, and because I wanted it to be real, I didn't like it presented as a manufactured experience.
Sure did look good, though. See this if you get a chance.
3/4 stars.