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Simultaneously a story about one man's coming-of-age, a romance, and the intersection of modernity and tradition, Levan Akin's And Then We Danced is a delicate balancing act layered with history, culture and personal context. Merab (Levan Gelbakhiani) has been training as a professional dancer since a young age at the National Georgian Ensemble. Born to two dancers, Merab is very much destined for greatness, moving with passion, strength, and a fluidity that earns him criticism for being too feminine. Things begin to unravel for Merab, however, when the charismatic and strange Irakli (Bachi Valishvili) transfers in as a replacement. Strong, agile and masculine, Iraki and his presence unnerves Merab, as he becomes both his greatest rival and desire. Beautifully shot and directed, And Then We Danced shows how dance is an immensely personal experience, where one's freedom to express themselves is unbound. However, what is personal can be political too, and constrained by conformity and tradition. |
And Then We Danced screens Saturday, February 15th at TIFF Next Wave. Its runtime is 1 hr. 53 min.
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