All That Jazz

Politics and dance competion don’t really go together,do they? Mr Jonathan from Australian mockmentary Razzle Dazzle doesn’t seem to think so. His academy is all about unorthodox approach to dance (in his orientation session,he asks his 10-year-old students to imagine electrocuting their pets),and his routines delve in the politics of hegemony-suppressed Afghani women rising to claim their rights and stuff.

He may be a sensitive,concious and unorthodox artist,but Mr Jonathan (Ben Miller)has dissapointingly plebian apsiration — to win a dance competition. The films documents the weeks leading to the competition and the way Mr Jonathan and his dancers cope with the stress of working towards a dream.

There are stock figures,the pushy mother (Kelly Armstrong) and the precocious kid (Shayni Notelovtz) but director Darren Ashton doesn’t resort to stereotyping. He treats his character with a wry compassion which makes them both funny and likable.

Part black comedy,part farce of the reality dance shows that seem to be everywhere nowadays,this Australian mockumentary wears its heart on its sleeve,never failing to find the bright spot in the midst of the darkest moments,nor the love and humanity in the most inhospitable situations. Heartache and laughter are handled with equal adeptness and wisdom and dignity are shown to be the by-product not of success,but of failure.