RHYTHM IS IT!

CATEGORY: Berliner Philharmoniker, cinema, culture, dance, DVD, music, society, Thomas Grube, transformation, youth
STATUS: in distribution
A Film by Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch

RHYTHM IS IT!

You Can Change Your Life in a Dance Class

This award winning and inspiring film about empowerment through dance and music is one of Germany‘s most successful documentaries ever.
Runtime: 100 min.
| Film format: 35 mm, HD
| Recording format: HD
Audio format: Dolby Digital, SR-D
| Picture ratio: 16:9, 1:1.75
Cast

Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, Royston Maldoom, Suz Broughton, Marie Theinert, Martin Eisentraut, Olayinka Shitu

Team

script by: Thomas Grube, Enrique Sánchez Lansch
directed by: Thomas Grube, Enrique Sánchez Lansch
camera: René Dame, Marcus Winterbauer
sound: Pascal Capitolin, Michael Laube
montage: Dirk Grau, Martin Hoffmann
score composed by: Karim Sebastian Elias
original score: Igor Stravinsky 'Le Sacre Du Printemps'

producers: Uwe Dierks, Thomas Grube, Andrea Thilo
in association with: RBB Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (Hannelore Wolf, Dorothea Diekmann), Arte (Sören Schuhmann), Frank Evers (cine plus)

Funding
MBB Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
FFA Filmförderungsanstalt (DVD)
World distribution
BOOMTOWNMEDIA INTERNATIONAL
Honours
(selection)
GERMAN FILM AWARD 2005 BEST DOCUMENTARY
GERMAN FILM AWARD 2005 BEST EDITING
BAVARIANFILM AWARD 2004 BEST DOCUMENTARY
AUDIENCE AWARD 2004 23rd MINNEAPOLIS INT. FILMFESTIVAL
GIBSON AWARD FOR IMPACT OF MUSIC NASHVILLE INT. FILMFESTIVAL
CLARION AWARD 2005 (IVCA), PERFORMING ARTS “RHYTHM IS IT!”
DANCE SCREEN BRIGHTON 2005 BEST PERFORMANCE RELAY
GERMAN CINEMA GUILD AWARD 2005 BEST DOCUMENTARY
GERMAN CRITICS AWARD 2005 ASSOCIATION OF GERMAN CRITICS
AUDIENCE AWARD 2005 INTERNATIONAL FILMFESTIVAL FREIBURG
FRANZ HOFER AWARD 2005 FILMHAUS AWARD, SAARBRÜCKEN
ECHO CLASSIC AWARD 2006 BEST DVD OF THE YEAR
GERMAN RECORD CRITICS’ ANNUAL AWARD 2006 BEST DVD OF THE YEAR
Nominated by ROYAL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY 2006 RPS Music Awards
Synopsis

RHYTHM IS IT!

"you can change your life in a dance class!" Royston Maldoom

This Box Office hit is about Marie, Martin, Olayinka and 250 kids and teenagers who never danced or listened to classical music when they faced their biggest challenge: to perform Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’ with Sir Simon Rattle and the legendary Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra!

Berlin, one cold January day. Amazing things are happening in the Arena down at Berlin’s industrial harbour. 250 Berlin schoolchildren from 25 different nationalities and socially difficult neighbourhoods are dancing to Stravinsky‘s 'Rite of Spring' choreographed by Royston Maldoom and accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under its chief conductor, Sir Simon Rattle.

RHYTHM IS IT! follows the fascinating process leading to a breathtaking performance. It shows the first efforts at dancing made by these very diverse youngsters, few of whom had prior knowledge of classical music and dance. A touching adventure spanning three-months of rehearsals which shows the perseverance, affection and patience with which Royston Maldoom and his assistant Susannah Broughton care for them while the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is rehearsing during the same period.

Through the eyes of three young protagonists we take part in the project‘s development, its ups and downs, doubts and enthusiasms, uncertainties and renewals of self-confidence. Marie, 15, who is desperately trying to pass her secondary school exams; Olayinka, 16, who has recently arrived as a war-orphan from Nigeria and Martin, 19, who is battling to overcome his inhibitions. They never had a chance so far, but as dancers they suddenly discover their real potentials. This is a fascinating journey into new, undreamed-of worlds which reveal surprising facets of the their personalities. An emotional ravishment into hidden worlds present in all of us.

This film also marks the start of a new era - one in which the orchestra strides confidently forth from behind the golden walls of the Philharmonic to other, darker regions of society. In this respect too, this film is an arresting historical document.

RHYTHM IS IT! is a beautiful cinematic experience full of passion, respect and zest for life.