BRAZIL
ONLY WHEN I DANCE
Official Selection AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs 2009

Beadie Finzi's documentary focuses on two up-and-coming ballerinas from the Centro de Danca ballet school in Rio de Janeiro. Eighteen-year-old Irlan hails from one of the toughest slums in the city and seeks escape through a spot with an international dance company, while 17-year-old Isabela, the only black dancer in the group, must contend with racism as well as the pressure to conform to rigorous weight standards. In the meantime, both students' families struggle to finance the cost of their children's dreams. Avoiding feel-good cliches, yet still inspirational and moving, this is a penetrating examination of the costs and power of art.

DIR/SCR Beadie Finzi; PROD Giorgio Lo Savio, Nikki Parrott. Brazil/UK, 2009, 78 min. In English and Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Mon, Oct 4, 7:00; Thu, Oct 7, 6:15