How She Move

Boy, these kids today—with their funky step dancing and their vibrant street culture and their desperate attempts to raise tuition for private school—where did parents go wrong? I'm joking: Ian Iqbal Rashid's How She Move is one of the better examples of the recent subgenre of “inner-city kids dancing their way out of poverty, or at least into personal integrity and some measure of happiness.” It's a little bit earnest, and a little bit afterschool-special-like, but the young newcomer cast is very appealing, and the film's spirit is honest and affecting. And did I mention that the dancing makes youwanna jump up, stomp your feet, and clap your hands? When Raya Green's (Rutina Wesley) family suffers a tragic loss that ends up financially devastating her Caribbean-immigrant parents (draining funds put aside for Raya's tuition at her ritzy suburban private school), Raya is forced to return to Toronto ghetto life and public school. Can she raise her tuition money anew via “stepping,” a percussive dance rooted in African tradition that is now a part of big-prize competition? Raya is that rare teen-movie protagonist who comes across as a real kid: precariously balanced between protected childhood and the adult world, she screws up and does selfish things without assessing consequences, but is still getting to know herself and will learn and mature. A rousing, energetic film that still retains the rough edges and authenticity of a small-budget production, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 14-minute featurette on “The Characters,” the production featurettes “Telling Her Story” (10 min.) and “From Rehearsal to Film” (9 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a small but winning film.] (M. Johanson)