Cast: Heather Rose, Joey Kennedy, John Brumpton, Rena Owen
Director: Rolf de Heer
Producers: James McLindon, Robert Altman
Screenplay: Rolf de Heer, Heather Rose, Frederick Stahl
Cinematography: Tony Clark
Music: Graham Tardif
Dance Me to My Song is not a documentary, but I learned as much about the plight of a certain segment of the disabled community from this motion picture as I have from any non-fiction film. The star of the movie, Heather Rose (who also co-wrote the script and was instrumental in bringing the project to the screen), is afflicted with a severe case of cerebral palsy. She has only rudimentary control over her body, is confined to a wheelchair, and needs a computer voice to speak for her. But her mind is quick and active, and her courage, which is evident in every aspect of this astounding performance, is sufficient to inspire anyone.
Rose is quick to point out that the experiences endured by her character, Julia, are not strictly autobiographical, although it's obvious that she understands the situation far better than any other actor could. In Julia, Rose creates someone we can empathize with and care about without pitying. We appreciate her pluck and bravery, and how she never allows any circumstance, no matter how difficult, to deter her. Regardless of the odds or the predicament, Julia never gives up. How many of us could say the same thing? In a very real sense, her efforts are superhuman. Julia does not strive to be "normal"; she realizes that's an impossibility - no matter how independent she becomes, she will always require the assistance of a companion/caregiver. Her goal is to be accorded the respect deserved by every human being, regardless of their limitations.
Niether Rose nor director Rolf de Heer want Dance Me to My Song to be known solely as a movie about a disabled person. Certainly, that's a critical aspect of the film, but it's not everything. In fact, the central story is really an offbeat love triangle. On one leg, there's Julia, who has the same emotional and sexual needs as any other woman. On another leg is Madelaine (Joey Kennedy), her caregiver, who's as emotionally crippled as Julia is physically damaged. And on the third leg is Eddie (John Brumpton), a kind (and somewhat mysterious) neighbor who strikes up a friendship with Julia while being sexually attracted to Madelaine. Dance Me to My Song is about Julia's struggle to win the battle for Eddie's heart and body. And the script makes a point of emphasizing the importance of intelligence in any seduction.
One of the film's strengths is that it refuses to see any of the principals as black or white. In addition to being resourceful and intelligent, Julia is shown to be willful, stubborn, and capable of conniving to get her way. Although ostensibly the "villain" of the piece, Madelaine is actually something of a tragic figure. While it's easy to despise her for her often neglectful and sometimes abusive treatment of Julia, the script takes pains to balance out these darker moments. Madelaine is a complex character whose emotional fragility makes her the frequent object of heartbreak. At times, she appears to genuinely care for Julia, and there's one especially touching scene when, after being raped by a boyfriend, Madelaine crawls into bed next to Julia in a desperate quest for the comfort of human contact. It is a rare moment of closeness between two people who often seem to despise each other. Julia tolerates Madelaine's abuses because it's the only way she can avoid returning to an institution. And Madelaine stays with Julia because she needs to be needed. In a way, Julia validates her existence.
Eddie is presented as the rarest of an endangered species: a genuinely nice guy. Yet there's something a little mysterious, and perhaps even sinister, about him. Why, for example, is he asking associates to call him at Julia's home rather than his own? And why does he forbid her to ask him any questions? Still, he doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive, and his affection for Julia appears to be genuine. Likewise, while his body reacts to Madelaine's sexuality, it's clear that there's no real connection. His reaction validates Madelaine's lament: "I know I'm good looking. I know I'm good in bed. There must be something else wrong with me." The film's fourth character is Julia's buddy, Rix (Rena Owen), who shows up from time-to-time to get her friend drunk. However, when Julia mentions the possibility of Rix replacing Madelaine, she demurs. Caring for Julia full time is a responsibility she is not willing to handle.
One cannot say enough about Rose's performance, which gives the film much of its vitality. Through this portrayal, we get a real sense of the triumphs and dangers in the day-to-day existence of someone with this disability. There are scenes in Dance Me to My Song (especially when Julia is being menaced by Madelaine) that reminded me of Rear Window, where the hero was a prisoner of his own immobilized body. Rose is ably supported by a trio of fine actors. Joey Kennedy (who may be familiar to some viewers from her role as David Helfgott's adult sister in Shine) does an excellent job developing her character into a three-dimensional individual. John Brumpton is likable as Eddie. And Rena Owen (the abused wife in Once Were Warriors) has a nice turn in the small part of Rix, for which she received a supporting actress nomination at the 1998 Australian Film Institute Awards.
There is a recent British film that echoes many of the themes and ideas presented in Dance Me to My Song, and, since the movies were in production at the same time, it would be unfair to accuse either of borrowing from the other. The other picture is The Theory of Flight, and stars the high-profile acting team of Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham-Carter. Roger Ebert perhaps describes the differences between the films best in his review of Flight: "Two movies. Same story. Same objective. Similar characters. Similar situation. One is an entertainment. The other is a thunderbolt." There's no doubt about which is which.
While there are times when it's difficult to watch Dance Me to My Song, the overall tone is upbeat. The director, Rolf de Heer (The Quiet Room), has willingly backed away from the film's authorship, claiming that, although he is credited as the director, this is Heather Rose's project. In truth, it's an effective collaboration. Dance Me to My Song does not have an American distributor, but it is making the film festival rounds, and, given an opportunity, it should not be missed. This is one of those rare movies that stays with the viewer long after the house lights have returned to full brightness.
© 1999 James Berardinelli