Desert Dancer: reviews

What the critics say average 5.2 from 12 outlets

• 7.0 ABCJosé Manuel Cuéllar Here, everything is very conventional, but also very endearing, tender but rebellious time. Read
• 6.3 Chicago Sun-TimesMary Houlihan The powerfully choreographed dances also address the idea that artistic vision is a potent antidote to repression. Read
• 6.3 New York PostSara Stewart It may fall into some conventional paces as a triumph-over-adversity story, but Desert Dancer does manage to movingly convey the chilling, ultimately triumphant experience of Ghaffarian?s struggle for creative expression under a regime that tried to crush it. Read
• 6.0 FotogramasBeatriz Martínez It is not able to meet the political conflicts from all its multifaceted complexity. Read
• 5.0 Los Angeles TimesSheri Linden Ghaffarian's story plays out within such a generic framework, and with such self-importance, that it's all too easy to remain untouched by the onscreen events. Read
• 5.0 New York TimesAndy Webster Desert Dancer explores fascinating aspects of present-day Iran but suffers mightily from simplistic and sentimental tendencies. Read
• 5.0 Screen DailyTim Grierson Though suitably moving in parts, Desert Dancer is more dutiful than inspired, reducing a worthy message to lukewarm sermonising. Read
• 5.0 The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck Desert Dancer too often lapses into generic cinematic clichés, failing to live up to the dramatic potential of its subject matter. Read
• 5.0 The A.V. ClubKatie Rife The whole thing resembles nothing more than the kind of video a well-meaning high-school teacher would put on to occupy their class while they catch up on some paperwork. It will almost certainly be used for this purpose in the future. Read
• 4.0 VarietyScott Foundas Desert Dancer traffics in the kind of spirited rebel-youth archetypes who?ve been endemic to dance movies for decades. Read
• 4.0 ClarinGaspar Zimerman The film makes a descent line Manichean that adds nothing to the knowledge of the Iranian reality. Read
• 4.0 CinemaníaJavier Cortijo Poor in speech, rich choreography. Not curdle. Read