Body Language (2011)

Directed by: Jeffrey Elmont | 100 minutes | action, drama | Actors: Ingrid Jansen, Ruben Solognier, Lorenzo van Velzen Bottazzide, Floris Bosveld, Sigourney Korper, Boris Schreurs

Talent shows are hugely popular on television. The viewing figures shoot up like rockets when it turns out that a good formula has been found. SYTYCD (‘So You Think You Can Dance’) is such a crowd favorite: a dance show that takes a serious look at the talent of the candidates. Hip-hop, ballroom and modern dance, it’s all covered. You better not miss an episode, because the day after such a broadcast you don’t belong at work or at school because you can’t join the conversation. Due to the huge success of programs such as SYTYCD and the fact that American dance films such as ‘Step Up’ and ‘Honey’ are also doing well in the Netherlands, the idea was born that there should be a Dutch dance film one day. The result is director Jeffrey Elmont’s ambitious ‘Body Language’. Johan Nijenhuis & co produced, among others.

‘Body Language’ is about such an ultimate dance competition, you know it. Such an opportunity that you as a dancer work towards all your life, for which you are willing to give up everything. No fewer than five Dutch crews are allowed to participate in this Battle of Broadway, but just before departure (they are literally standing in line to check in at Schiphol) it appears that the government subsidy has been withdrawn. The assertive Nina (Ingrid Jansen) refuses to give up and shouts that she just goes to New York. Her example is followed by four young people: Quincy, Tara, Samuel and Ray (Ruben Solognier, Sigourney Korper, Lorenzo van Velzen Bottazzi and Boris Schreurs). Once on the plane, it turns out that her plan is very simple: although the dancers come from different crews, they together form one crew. After all, in New York they don’t need to know that they’ve never danced together before?

This turns out to be – of course – easier said than done. Not only are the dance styles completely different, the five young people each also have a lot of emotional baggage. Broken hearts, money problems, a search for a father, at least it provides enough material for a lot of drama. The scenario of ‘Body Language’ is therefore reasonably balanced: there is enough space for fat dance scenes, but the emotional life is not forgotten either. It’s a shame that you always have to choose between two evils for the cast: actors who can’t dance or dancers who can’t act well. With ‘Body Language’ the choice fell – as usual – on the latter. However, that only avenges itself in the really dramatic scenes. What also doesn’t help is that the film does demand a lot from the viewer’s gullibility: the five young people are actually each step on their toes rather quickly and react more fiercely than you might expect in everyday life. So there is a fight every now and then, but it is also just as easily made up and a broken heart is glued back in no time. However, the target audience will not lose any sleep over this. The dance sequences are cool and will definitely appeal to fans of the genre and programs like SYTYCD (which three of the protagonists have become famous for). In addition, the film looks beautiful: well-known locations in New York are beautifully portrayed and the dance scenes look like something to pass through. That doesn’t make ‘Body Language’ a good film, but nevertheless hordes of young people will run away with it. Mission accomplished.