Yuli

This energetic account of the life of the electrifying Cuban never shies away from the truth about his tough upbringing

A biopic as hard as beautiful of Carlos Acosta, a child raised by an old-school but loving father and then a well-known black dancer who first did not want to dance.

Many tender, heart-wrenching scenes, a beautiful photography including the alleys of Cuba, good actors: 6/7 of 10.

Legendary dancer Carlos Acosta stars in his own biography. Raised by a controlling but loving father he is forced to start a ballet school even though he hates the idea. A coming of age story with a strong connection to the time and place, makes for unique viewing.

Carlos Acosta has co-written the multilayered script with the Scottish writer Paul Laverty. It is mostly focused on Acosta's childhood and his journey to accepting his true calling. The film is also a bittersweet testament to his father, a man with a turbulent personality who never stopped believing in his son's talent.

Authentic and larger than life, and full of colourful scenery, the film always has another wonder in store. Slightly too long for an independent production it still has a coherent story to tell, about the purest of diamond found in the toughest of places.

I do not care much about ballet although my education had ensured I know a lot about it. YULI has plenty of ballet on display but it is organic to the storytelling. Yes, there are dance sequences for those who enjoy them, but for those who don't they are short and inventive enough to be fun.

Here is an extraordinary life story told without bitterness or regrets. There's gratitude instead. And this is how it should be.

Without a doubt one of the best movies i have ever seen in my life. It came at right time. Thank you cuba for this piece of art.

Written by Paul Laverty this is the story of Acosta's life: a loving yet brutally determined father, a schizophrenic sister, a poor childhood in Cuba, racism, career vs. family and becoming the principal dancer at the English National Ballet in London. Acosta recreates his own life, directing other dancers to play characters from that life with Acosta occasionally playing his own father. Like a child recreating its own past in order to feel comfortable within the known - or to change it - Acosta does it with dance.

This is a beautiful piece of work and takes us into the graceful world and mind of a man working through his demons with dance.