The Dancer Upstairs

Synopsis

Based on the story of the Shining Path, the terrorist movement responsible for taking Peru to the brink, The Dancer Upstairs will be John Malkovich's directorial debut.

Peru in the mid-1980s is collapsing under the onslaught of a highly organised terrorist movement, and a man named Rejas (Javier Bardem) finds himself unexpectedly at the centre of the action.

Charged with the near-impossible task of identifying and capturing the mysterious leader Ezequiel, Rejas is hampered by the corruption of his superiors and a frighteningly complacent public. As daily bombings strike at the government's foundations, a surreal cocktail of martial law, savage violence and end-of-the-world gaiety grips the nation. Under severe pressure, and perhaps intoxicated himself, he falls for Yolanda (Laura Morante) his daughter's devastatingly beautiful ballet teacher, thus stumbling into a quiet warehouse on the capital's outskirts - and the very heart of the terrorist organisation.

Details

Year

2001

Type of film

Features

Format

35mm

Director

John Malkovich

Producer

John Malkovich

Executive Producer

John Malkovich

Editor

Mario Battistel

Screenwriter

Nicholas Shakespeare

Director of Photography

Jose Luis Alcaine

Sound

Antonio Bloch

Music

Pedro Malgheas

Principal Cast

Javier Bardem, Laura Morante

Genre

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 26th November 2005