Mao's Last Dancer (film)

Mao's Last Dancer

Company type	Motion picture
Industry	Film
Founded	2009 (2009)
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Biographical dance film

Mao's Last Dancer is a 2009 Australian motion picture adapted from the 2003 autobiographical book of the same title by professional dancer Li Cunxin. The character of Li Cunxin is depicted by Chi Cao, Principal Dancer of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, alongside Chengwu Guo from the Australian Ballet and Huang Wen Bin. The cast also features Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen, and Amanda Schull.

The film debuted on 13 September 2009 at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was subsequently released widely in Australia and New Zealand on 1 October 2009, followed by a limited release across 33 U.S. theaters in August 2010.

Plot

Set against the backdrop of Mao's Cultural Revolution, the story follows 11-year-old Li Cunxin, a boy from a rural village in Shandong destined for agricultural work. Talent scouts from the government identify him during an inspection in Qingdao and select him for ballet training. He gains admission to Madame Mao's Dance Academy in Beijing after passing physical and flexibility assessments.

Li undergoes years of demanding ballet instruction, progressing under the guidance of senior teacher Chan, who specializes in classical Russian ballet but faces political challenges. During a cultural exchange visit, American ballet director Ben Stevenson recognizes Li's exceptional ability and arranges for him to study with the Houston Ballet as an exchange student. Despite initial obstacles, Li obtains permission for a three-month stay in the United States.

While immersed in American culture, Li begins to question Chinese Communist Party ideologies and starts a romantic relationship with dancer Elizabeth Mackey. When China refuses to extend his visa, Li and Stevenson appeal without success. Determined to remain in the U.S. and marry Mackey, Li hopes marriage will grant him residency rights. After attempting to exit the Chinese Consulate in Houston, he is detained but gains significant media coverage and diplomatic intervention. Ultimately, the Chinese government strips him of citizenship and forbids his return.

Li initially plans to relocate to Florida but remains with the Houston Ballet at Stevenson's encouragement, causing tension that leads to his divorce from Elizabeth. Five years later, as a sign of goodwill, China permits Li's parents to visit America, where they witness his performance and reunite with him on stage. Eventually allowed to return to China accompanied by his new wife Mary McKendry, an Australian ballerina, Li reconnects with family and teacher Chan in his hometown, culminating in an impromptu ballet performance.

The closing credits reveal that Li performed in China with the Houston Ballet in 1995 before an audience exceeding 500 million viewers. He and Mary currently reside in Australia with their three children. Ben Stevenson departed from Houston Ballet after 27 years and now directs Texas Ballet Theater. Attorney Charles C. Foster continues as a prominent immigration law specialist based in Houston. Elizabeth Mackey pursued a career with Oklahoma Ballet before transitioning into speech therapy focused on children.

Cast

• Chi Cao as Li Cunxin
  • Chengwu Guo portraying teenage Li Cunxin
  • Huang Wen Bin as young Li Cunxin
• Joan Chen as Li Cunxin's mother
• Wang Shuang Bao as Li Cunxin's father
• Bruce Greenwood as Ben Stevenson
• Kyle MacLachlan as Charles Foster
• Penne Hackforth-Jones as Cynthia Dodds
• Amanda Schull as Elizabeth "Liz" Mackey
• Jack Thompson as Judge Woodrow Seals
• Camilla Vergotis as Mary McKendry
• Aden Young as Dilworth

Music

Australian composer Christopher Gordon crafted the film's score, integrating Western orchestral sounds with traditional Chinese instruments. This composition earned the Best Original Music Score award at the 2009 AFI Awards and also won both Best Feature Score and Best Soundtrack Album at the Screen Music Awards Australia. Key musical pieces were performed under the direction of composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky, emphasizing the film’s blend of cultural influences and its musical richness.

Reception

Critically, the film garnered a mixed response, achieving a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 76 reviews, with a comparable score on Metacritic.

From a commercial standpoint, it was the 15th top-grossing film in Australia for 2009 and, by 2010, ranked as the 12th highest-grossing Australian film in history, demonstrating significant success in the domestic market.

Accolades

Award	Category	Recipient	Outcome
AACTA Awards (2009 AFI Awards)	Best Film	Jane Scott	Template:Nom
	Best Direction	Bruce Beresford	Template:Nom
	Best Adapted Screenplay	Jan Sardi	Template:Nom
	Best Editing	Mark Warner	Template:Nom
	Best Original Music Score	Christopher Gordon	Template:Won
	Best Sound	Yulia Akerholt	Template:Nom
		Mark Franken	Template:Nom
		David Lee	Template:Nom
		Andrew Neil	Template:Nom
		Roger Savage	Template:Nom
	Best Production Design	Herbert Pinter	Template:Nom
	Best Costume Design	Anna Borghesi	Template:Nom
FCCA Awards	Best Film	Jane Scott	Template:Nom
	Best Director	Bruce Beresford	Template:Nom
	Best Editing	Mark Warner	Template:Nom
	Best Music Score	Christopher Gordon	Template:Nom
Inside Film Awards	Best Feature Film	Jane Scott	Template:Nom
	Best Direction	Bruce Beresford	Template:Nom
	Best Script	Jan Sardi	Template:Nom
	Best Actor	Chi Cao	Template:Nom
	Best Actress	Joan Chen	Template:Nom
	Best Cinematography	Peter James	Template:Nom
	Best Music	Christopher Gordon	Template:Nom
Movieguide Awards	Faith & Freedom Award for Movies	Mao's Last Dancer	Template:Nom

Box office

At the Australian box office, Mao's Last Dancer accumulated earnings totaling $15,440,315.