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Desert Dancer

  • 2014
  • PG-13
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in Desert Dancer (2014)
Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.
Play trailer2:20
25 Videos
52 Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amid his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amid his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amid his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.

  • Director
    • Richard Raymond
  • Writers
    • Jon Croker
    • Afshin Ghaffarian
  • Stars
    • Tom Cullen
    • Nazanin Boniadi
    • Freida Pinto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Raymond
    • Writers
      • Jon Croker
      • Afshin Ghaffarian
    • Stars
      • Tom Cullen
      • Nazanin Boniadi
      • Freida Pinto
    • 14User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos25

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    Clip
    Clip 1:00
    Clip
    Clip
    Clip 1:00
    Clip
    Clip
    Clip 0:38
    Clip
    Clip
    Clip 0:50
    Clip
    Desert Dancer: Desert Dance
    Clip 1:37
    Desert Dancer: Desert Dance
    Desert Dancer: You Taught Me That
    Clip 1:10
    Desert Dancer: You Taught Me That

    Photos52

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    + 47
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    Top cast46

    Edit
    Tom Cullen
    Tom Cullen
    • Ardavan
    Nazanin Boniadi
    Nazanin Boniadi
    • Parisa Ghaffarian
    Freida Pinto
    Freida Pinto
    • Elaheh
    Reece Ritchie
    Reece Ritchie
    • Afshin Ghaffarian
    Akin Gazi
    Akin Gazi
    • Farid Ghaffarian
    Simon Kassianides
    Simon Kassianides
    • Sattar
    Marama Corlett
    Marama Corlett
    • Mona
    Davood Ghadami
    • Basij Leader
    Sam Shoubber
    Sam Shoubber
    • Theatre Audience
    Neet Mohan
    Neet Mohan
    • Javadi, Naser
    Dana Haqjoo
    Dana Haqjoo
    • Passport Officer
    Richard David-Caine
    Richard David-Caine
    • Teymour…
    Tolga Safer
    Tolga Safer
    • Stephano
    Makram Khoury
    Makram Khoury
    • Mehdi
    Bamshad Abedi-Amin
    • Mehran
    Mourad Zaoui
    Mourad Zaoui
    • The student
    Alex Klaus
    Alex Klaus
    • Minder 1
    • (as Alex Claus)
    Hamza Kadri
    Hamza Kadri
    • Smocking Guy
    • Director
      • Richard Raymond
    • Writers
      • Jon Croker
      • Afshin Ghaffarian
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.22K
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    Featured reviews

    10rgspeedstr

    Loved It! Very Touching Movie

    This was a very well made film! After watching the movie, I learned a lot about Iran and their views on dancing.

    Pretty intense!

    The boy who played the role of Afshin Ghaffarian, the dancer, did an amazing job. Frieda Pinto also played a role in this movie, and was interesting to learn about her character. Everyone had their specific role in the movie, telling the story of what really happens there.

    Its a very wild thought to think about what it would be like to live away from home, and the type of lifestyle some people see in the middle east, where this takes place.

    If you like interesting stories that are true, you will love this movie!

    Hands down one of the more interesting movies i have ever seen.
    10mr-ronen-eitan

    Entertaining & Compelling Story

    I viewed this movie after hearing about it through a friend. It didn't seem like a film I would usually be interested in after seeing some of the reviews from critics and users, but I gave it a chance anyway.

    I was very impressed, the story was great, the fact that it was based on a true story, and political facts made the film more put together and gave it a lot of depth.

    A lot of work and studying was put into this film, and I always give acclaim to those in the film industry who try hardest to put a story out there that is meant to be heard and for that reason I rate the film a 10.

    Definitely recommend everyone to see it, this is in no way a "boring" film.
    10angelofvic

    Great movie that meets and exceeds expectations

    If you like dance movies, this is for you.

    It's comparable to the best true-story dance movies like 'Mao's Last Dancer', 'Dancing Across Borders', and so on. If you liked those movies, you will love this.

    It's well cast, well acted, well danced, and very interesting and dramatic.

    I loved it!

    Highly recommended for dance-movie fans.

    The lead character is especially well cast, and he dances marvelously, with passion and beauty and skill, while also being an excellent actor.
    8sas2014

    I like the fact this is a smash into the mouth of basiji animals & ayatollahs

    The content of this movie is soft and 1/100 of the sad reality of youth living in that godforsaken country. if the catch you laughing/dancing/singing they beat you & call you whores. While the real animals basiji and their whores, get paid to torture and kill young boys and girls. this is our reality for 37 years. I left and anyone who could left. If you stay, you become depressed, put in prison or drug addict. that is what the ayatollahs want. watch this film and feel lucky that most basic human rights like enjoying music is not taken away from you
    1carter-drewj

    One of the most blatant "propaganda" films ever produced!

    This piece of political trash is so hilariously made to trash Iran and it's people and government - as to be laughable.

    Considering the history of Persia (Iran) this movie would have made "yellow journalist" William Randolph Hearst giddy! In 1951 Mohammed Mossadeg was Time's Man of the year .. and garnered a front page spread: http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19520107,00.html As Kermit Roosevelt brags on the Cia.gov web page, Kermit was in charge of bombing schools, churches and blaming it on Mossadeq! The reason for this terrorism: Mossadeq wanted to use some of Iran's oil revenues to improve his country! British Petroleum would have none of that .. and the "terror" started. Moosadeq was overthrown, and the Shah of Iran placed in charge of the county - and the secret police "The Savak" ruled Iran with extreme terror for decades. That is the historical perspective which this movie glosses over, making it such a piece of propaganda trash! On the one hand the CIA installed Shah .. killed and tortured hundreds of thousands of Iranians - on the other hand the vicious government they have now disallows dancing! What a tragedy that Movies like this get funded!

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There is a misspelled word in the big banner the protesters carry in front of them
    • Connections
      References Dirty Dancing (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Louie Louie
      (Richard Berry (as Berry))

      Performed by Jack Ely

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Desert Dancer?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 2016 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Romania
      • Morocco
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Until I Rise
    • Filming locations
      • Casablanca, Morocco
    • Production companies
      • CrossDay Productions Ltd.
      • Head Gear Films
      • Lipsync Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $155,271
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $40,763
      • Apr 12, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $438,165
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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