Bobbi Jene

This haunting documentary centers on American dancer and choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith, a remarkable artist who goes all out to achieve her goals. Anyone looking for a film about dance per se, however, will not find it here. Bobbi Jene is not a study of an art form or anyone’s mastery of it; instead it’s a loosely-organized portrait of a young woman who gradually learns what is lost and sacrificed through absolute commitment to creative independence. Viewers meet Smith, an Iowa native, as she hovers around the age of 30, ready to conclude a decade in a prominent position with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company. Slowly parting with the troupe’s artistic director, Ohad Naharin (a former lover), and her current boyfriend (another dancer, 10 years younger), Smith returns to America, where she begins teaching and trying to figure out what how to be a relevant and dynamic force in the dance world. Meanwhile, the personal side of things--particularly the faraway boyfriend--take on a different urgency that require decisions. The film’s climactic scene--a solo performance Smith choreographed and dances in the nude--is essentially her bold declaration about the value of her ideas and the risks she will take for them. Director Elvira Lind had access to Smith’s private and public world’s over a long period, and the resulting journey is a compelling one. Extras include bonus performances, an interview with Lind and Smith, and deleted scenes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)