Director: Philip Connaughton & Luca Truffarelli
Choreographer: Philip Connaughton
Music: Mel Mercier
A stunning celebration of dance, A Rebellious Hope, aims to answer the question ‘Why do I still do this?’. Why still dance when your body is older and not as agile, or you struggle financially because dancing doesn’t provide enough of an income. We open on a dark screen and the voice of director and choreographer, Philip Connaughton, asking himself that very question. Despite one brief flash, at the very end, we then don’t see or hear him for the rest of the film. He hands it over to the spectacular cast of featured artists, aged between 46 and 85, who explain what dance means for them. Leaving us with the question, in searching out why these other artists still dance, did Philip find his answer.
Throughout the film we see that dance is pure, unfiltered, self expression to each of these artists. The narration over each dance sequence was recorded separately to the dancing while each artist was in motion which helps to join it to the dancing. They are poignant and sometimes funny accounts of why they dance, what it means to them and what goes through their minds while they are dancing. Combined with Mel Mercer’s beautiful score, each segment feels unique and as individual as the artists who are featured in them.
This film moves between several locations, various dance studios, a beach, on top of a mountain and along the river Seine. The beauty of each location is expertly shown by Luca Truffarelli’s use of the wide shot. The locations become as important to the film as the dancing taking part in it. At times, the artists are only a small spot on a vast landscape. The outdoor locations particularly highlight the message that dance is freedom and infinite. A particularly lovely moment occurs when one featured artist dances through a small laneway by some houses. Her entire being is exuding pure joy.
This film is a celebration of artists following their passion despite any obstacles that may come across their paths. It poses questions about why showing artists with different bodies or who are aging feels so radical in the modern world. After all, dance is a universal language that we can all enjoy.
Reviewed 3rd May 2025.
The Review's Hub Score
Dance your heart out
