Last Dance 2002
Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Mirra Bank
Directed by Mirra Bank
VHS, color, 84 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Art, Art Education, Dance, Theater, Jewish Studies, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Storytelling
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Ethan Pullman, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Hillman Library, University Library System, University of PittsburghMirra Bank’s documentary brilliantly follows the collaboration of the cast and directors of Pilobolus, a first rate dance company, and the legendary Maurice Sendak, author-illustrator, to produce a work that tells the story of the Holocaust. The film is extremely effective in showing what is involved in taking a theater piece from a mere vision to a full-blown production, which makes this film a unique teaching tool.
Bank is fortunate in that she happened upon two unlikely partners. Pilobolus and Sendak had distinctly different ideas of what the piece needed to be: Did audiences need another Holocaust story? What should the characters portray? How bold should the message be? She blends rehearsal scenes with intimate interviews with the creators, cast, and directors, and treats us to a sneak peak at the full product.
As with many First Run/Icarus products, Last Dance is a high quality production from audio to visual editing.
Last Danceis highly recommend for public, school, and academic libraries. WARNING: Discretion required as this film contains very brief nudity. Awards
- Golden Gate Award, Merit in the Arts, 2002 San Francisco International Film Festival