DVD Review : Desert Dancer

Desert Dancer 
Set against the backdrop of Iran’s volatile 2009 presidential election, this powerful film follows the incredible true story of renowned international dancer Afshin Ghaffarian. At a time when dancing is forbidden, Afshin (Reece Ritchie, Hercules) and some friends, including the beautiful Elaheh (Freida Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire) risk their lives to form an underground dance company. Inspired by banned online videos of timeless legends like Michael Jackson and Rudolf Nureyev, Afshin and Elaheh embrace their passion for dance – and for one another. With palpable tension, breathtaking choreography and spectacular cinematography, Desert Dancer is a story of extraordinary courage, love and the fulfillment of dreams.

Special Features

• Desert Dancer: In Conversation with Afshin Ghaffarian
• The Rise of the People
• First Memories
• Theatrical Trailer

Desert Dancer DVD

Street Date:                  December 1, 2015
Prebook Date:              October 28, 2015
Screen Format:            Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio:                           5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles:                      English SDH, Spanish
Total Run Time:            94 minutes
U.S. Rating:                  PG-13
Closed Captioned:        Yes 

My Thoughts

It's hard to imagine a world where artistic expression is stifled, but sadly it's a fact of life even in very recent history. During the presidential elections of Iran in 2009, dancing was forbidden. Refusing to let their creativity be stifled, Afshin and his partner Elaheh form an underground dance company. Their mutual passion for dance also blossoms into love which makes this an endearing love story as well.

This movie is so inspiring and even more so because it's based on a true story of courageous people who refused to let go of their dreams.   The scenery is rich and vivid, and all the actors did a suburb job of bringing the story to life. This is a movie that will touch your heart on many levels.