{{Short description|2014 film by Richard Raymond}} {{Use British English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Desert Dancer | image = Desert Dancer.jpg | alt = | caption = North American theatrical release poster | director = [[Richard Raymond (film maker)|Richard Raymond]] | producer = {{Plainlist| * Luis Astorquia * Pippa Cross * [[Izabella Miko]] }}Parisa Dunn | writer = Jon Croker | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Freida Pinto]] * [[Reece Ritchie]] * [[Tom Cullen]] * [[Makram Khoury|Makram J. Khoury]] }} | music = [[Benjamin Wallfisch]] | cinematography = Carlos Catalán | editing = {{Plainlist| * Chris Gill * Celia Haining }} | studio = {{Plainlist| * CrossDay Productions Ltd. * Head Gear Films * Lipsync Productions * May 13 Films * Morocco Film Assistance }} | distributor = Metrodome Distribution {{small|(UK)}} | released = {{Film date|df=y|2014|07|03|Germany|2015|04|10|United States|2016|04|15|United Kingdom}} | runtime = 104 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 104:02--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/desert-dancer-film | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200601/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/desert-dancer-film | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 April 2018 | title=''DESERT DANCER'' (15) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=23 February 2016 | accessdate=23 February 2016}}</ref> | country = {{Plainlist| * United Kingdom * United Arab Emirates * Romania * Morocco }} | language = English | budget = $4 million | gross = $432,560<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=desertdancer.htm | title=Desert Dancer (2014) - International Box Office Results | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] | date=14 February 2016 | accessdate=23 February 2016 | archive-date=30 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230042857/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr2043826693/ | url-status=live }}</ref> }} '''''Desert Dancer''''' is a 2014 British [[Biographical film|biographical]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Richard Raymond (film maker)|Richard Raymond]] and written by Jon Croker. Starring [[Reece Ritchie]] and [[Freida Pinto]], the film is based on the true story of [[Afshin Ghaffarian]], a young, self-taught dancer in [[Iran]], who risked his life for his dream to become a dancer despite a nationwide dancing ban.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://catonthewall.net/?p=142 |title=Interview with Afshin Ghaffarian | Cat On The Wall Webzine |publisher=Catonthewall.net |accessdate=2013-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003045139/http://catonthewall.net/?p=142 |archive-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2015 |title=20 Great Dance Movies |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/great-dance-movies-9057/ |work=backstage.com}}</ref>
==Synopsis== Set in Iran, the story follows the ambition of [[Afshin Ghaffarian]]. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, Afshin and some friends, including Elaheh, risk their lives and form an underground dance company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-25 |title='Desert Dancer' Chronicles Iranian Underground Dance Troupe |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/best-dancer-chronicles-iranian-underground-dance-troupe/2789303.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref> The group learned the dancing from videos of Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and [[Rudolf Nureyev]] even though the online videos are banned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Desert Dancer: Real-life story of secret troupe illuminates Iran |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/movies/2015/04/23/desert-dancer-real-life-story/24170953007/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref> Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other and learned how to embrace their passion for dance and for one another.<ref>{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2015-04-08 |title=‘Desert Dancer’: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/desert-dancer-film-review-786841/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: 'Desert Dancer' covers too much ground |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2015/04/09/review-desert-dancer-covers-much-ground/25470291/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Cast== * [[Reece Ritchie]] as [[Afshin Ghaffarian]] * Joshan Ertan as voice of young Afshin * [[Freida Pinto]] as Elaheh * [[Nazanin Boniadi]] as Parisa Ghaffarian * [[Tom Cullen]] as Ardavan * [[Marama Corlett]] as Mona * [[Simon Kassianides]] as Sattar * Akin Gazi as Farid Ghaffarian * [[Tolga Safer]] as Stephano * [[Makram Khoury]] as Mehdi
==Production== [[Richard Raymond (film maker)|Richard Raymond]] makes his full-length film directorial debut working with acclaimed choreographer [[Akram Khan (dancer)|Akram Khan]], whose work featured in the Olympic opening ceremony at London 2012. Raymond produced the film through his May 13 Films banner. [[Freida Pinto]] undertook an intensive training schedule for the role that comprised eight hours of dance rehearsals every day for 14 weeks.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/bollywood/news/a430306/freida-pinto-dance-training-for-desert-dancer-was-daunting.html |title=Freida Pinto: 'Dance training for Desert Dancer was daunting' - Bollywood News |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2012-10-13 |accessdate=2013-01-09 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230042705/https://www.digitalspy.com/bollywood/a430306/freida-pinto-dance-training-for-desert-dancer-was-daunting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Photo call for the film was held at the Palais des Festivals during the third day of the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on Friday May 18, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/cannes-film-festival-2012-stars-heat-red-carpet-day-2-gallery-1.1080778?pmSlide=2 |title=65th Cannes Film Festival - Desert Dancer Photocall - Cannes Film Festival 2012: Stars step up red carpet style on day 2 |publisher=NY Daily News |date=2012-05-18 |accessdate=2013-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/discussion/freida-pinto-desert-dancer-photocall |title=Freida Pinto at Desert Dancer photocall at the Cannes Film Festival |publisher=Pinkvilla |date= |accessdate=2013-01-09}}</ref> [[Relativity Media]] acquired North America distribution rights to the film <ref>{{cite web |author=Dave McNary |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/afm-freida-pintos-desert-dancer-picked-up-by-relativity-exclusive-1200813383/ |title=AFM: Freida Pinto's 'Desert Dancer' Picked Up by Relativity (EXCLUSIVE) |publisher=Variety |date=2013-11-09 |accessdate=2015-11-02 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230042838/https://variety.com/2013/film/news/afm-freida-pintos-desert-dancer-picked-up-by-relativity-exclusive-1200813383/ |url-status=live }}</ref> at 2013 [[American Film Market]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Douglas |first=Edward |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=111249 |title=Relativity Picks up Desert Dancer, Starring Freida Pinto |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2013-11-10 |accessdate=2015-11-02 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230042828/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/111249-relativity-picks-up-desert-dancer-starring-freida-pinto |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Release== ''Desert Dancer'' premiered in Germany on July 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Vorgestellt von Katja Nicodemus |url=http://www.ndr.de/kultur/film/Drama-Wuestentaenzer,wuestentaenzer100.html |title=Drama: "Wüstentänzer" | NDR.de - Kultur - Film |publisher=NDR.de |date= |accessdate=2015-11-02 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230042757/https://www.ndr.de/kultur/film/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It opened the [[Ischia Global Film & Music Fest]] in [[Ischia]], Italy on July 13, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cannes: 'Desert Dancer' to Open Ischia Global Film & Music Fest|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-desert-dancer-open-ischia-705162|website=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref>
The film premiered in Hong Kong on August 28, 2014 and in the United States on April 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2403393/releaseinfo|title=Desert Dancer (2014) Release Info|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=2015-11-02}}</ref>
==Reception== The film received a mixed reception from critics. {{RT data|as of|y|m}}, the film holds a {{RT data|score}} approval rating on the review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on {{RT data|count}} reviews with an average score of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads: "''Desert Dancer'' never finds an agreeable rhythm, resulting in a musical drama that doesn't deliver on the promised spectacle or political commentary."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/desert_dancer|title=Desert Dancer|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|2403393|Desert Dancer}} * {{Mojo title|desertdancer|Desert Dancer}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|desert_dancer|Desert Dancer}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Desert Dancer}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131018031708/http://starland.pro/en/home-en/movies/desert-dancer ''Desert Dancer'' at Starland.pro] * [http://publikart.net/desert-dancer-un-film-de-richard-raymond/ ''Desert Dancer''] at [http://publikart.net/ Publikart.net]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Desert Dancer}} [[Category:2014 films]] [[Category:English-language Emirati films]] [[Category:English-language Romanian films]] [[Category:English-language Moroccan films]] [[Category:2014 biographical drama films]] [[Category:British biographical drama films]] [[Category:Emirati biographical films]] [[Category:Emirati drama films]] [[Category:Romanian biographical drama films]] [[Category:Moroccan drama films]] [[Category:2010s dance films]] [[Category:Films set in Iran]] [[Category:Films set in 2009]] [[Category:Films shot in London]] [[Category:Films shot in Morocco]] [[Category:Films shot in Paris]] [[Category:Films scored by Benjamin Wallfisch]] [[Category:Relativity Media films]] [[Category:British dance films]] [[Category:2014 drama films]] [[Category:Biographical films about dancers]] [[Category:2014 English-language films]] [[Category:2014 British films]] [[Category:English-language biographical drama films]] [[Category:2010s Emirati films]] [[Category:2010s Romanian films]] [[Category:2010s Moroccan films]]