Submitted by Robert, Nov 9, 2007 11:01

This is the second review of this film I've read implicity or directly accusing the directors of staging scenes and coaching interviewees. These are very serious accusations, with no evidence offerered other than a sort of queasy reaction. It seems the reviewers find it impossible to believe that a)damaged kids can be articulate and b)that life, including dance festivals, goes on even in war-ravaged areas.

As for the "polished" look of the film, I suspect the reality of the beauty of Africa and the reviewer's expectations of how a proper war zone should look have collided here. I'll bet the film makers considered this juxtaposition to be a major part of the statement of their documentary - that even those who have survived nightmarish experiences are capable of banding together to create art and, yes, beauty.

Which probably explains why the film as had such remarkable success at Sundance and other festivals.

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