Save the Last Dance
Actors: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas and Kerry Washington
Writers: Duane Adler and Cheryl Edwards
Directors: Thomas Carter
Studio: MTV Films
Interest Age: 15-adult
Annotation:
Her mother dies and she does not feel like she can dance again. Sara moves with her father and meets a whole group of new people. Will she ever go for her dream?
Plot Summary:
Sara's mother is her best friend and the person who has helped her become the amazing ballet dancer she is. When her mother dies on the way to an audition, Sara moves to Chicago to live with her father and she is determined not to dance again. Chicago is completely different from the quiet Midwest town she is used to and she meets a completely new set of people.
Derrick is smart, kind, and challenges Sara in many ways. He helps her learn to dance hip hop in the clubs and they begin to fall in love. Problems arise because Sara is white and Derrick is black. Many of the other girls in school feel the white girls take all the good black men. Suddenly Sara is in the middle of a race battle as well as an internal one. Derrick is pushing her to dance again, will she succeed?
Critical Evaluation:
This movie has many different interesting elements in it. It explores the stereotypes of the inner city life of places like Chicago. There is gang activity, drugs, teen pregnancy, and poverty. Race is also an issue this movie deals with. It is an incredible story about how one can move beyond their circumstances and be whatever they want to be. Sara really wants to dance but is held back by tragedy and Derrick wants to be a doctor but needs the encouragement to forget the past of gangs and illegal activity. This story reminds the audience that your dreams really can get you somewhere. It was very well written and is still relevant 11 years later.
About MTV Films:
In 1996, MTV the television network, started their own film company called MTV Film. They have been creating movies as well as television ever since. They started out with only releasing films based on their television shows such as Jackass the Movie and Beavis and Butthead Do America. As time went on, MTV Films branched out and started creating different films such as Save the Last Dance. In 2006, they became an official division of Paramount Pictures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Films
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Sara's mother is her best friend and the person who has helped her become the amazing ballet dancer she is. When her mother dies on the way to an audition, Sara moves to Chicago to live with her father and she is determined not to dance again. Chicago is completely different from the quiet Midwest town she is used to and she meets a completely new set of people.
Derrick is smart, kind, and challenges Sara in many ways. He helps her learn to dance hip hop in the clubs and they begin to fall in love. Problems arise because Sara is white and Derrick is black. Many of the other girls in school feel the white girls take all the good black men. Suddenly Sara is in the middle of a race battle as well as an internal one. Derrick is pushing her to dance again, will she succeed?
Critical Evaluation:
This movie has many different interesting elements in it. It explores the stereotypes of the inner city life of places like Chicago. There is gang activity, drugs, teen pregnancy, and poverty. Race is also an issue this movie deals with. It is an incredible story about how one can move beyond their circumstances and be whatever they want to be. Sara really wants to dance but is held back by tragedy and Derrick wants to be a doctor but needs the encouragement to forget the past of gangs and illegal activity. This story reminds the audience that your dreams really can get you somewhere. It was very well written and is still relevant 11 years later.
About MTV Films:
In 1996, MTV the television network, started their own film company called MTV Film. They have been creating movies as well as television ever since. They started out with only releasing films based on their television shows such as Jackass the Movie and Beavis and Butthead Do America. As time went on, MTV Films branched out and started creating different films such as Save the Last Dance. In 2006, they became an official division of Paramount Pictures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Films
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Book Talking:
N/A
Challenging Issues:
If this movie were to be challenged, I would go through the selection process with the challenger as well as explain the rationale for the movie. There are many good qualities in this film that could be reason to have it in a collection.
Why Watch this Movie:
This movie bridges the gap between rich and poor and people with opportunity opposed to those who do not. It shows there is more to life than what you were raised as. It also has great dancing and characters in it. This is a great movie for teens.
N/A
Challenging Issues:
If this movie were to be challenged, I would go through the selection process with the challenger as well as explain the rationale for the movie. There are many good qualities in this film that could be reason to have it in a collection.
Why Watch this Movie:
This movie bridges the gap between rich and poor and people with opportunity opposed to those who do not. It shows there is more to life than what you were raised as. It also has great dancing and characters in it. This is a great movie for teens.
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