‘Madu’ Review: Inspirational Doc on Young Nigerian Ballet Dancer Dazzles Visually but Lacks Depth
variety.comCarlos Aguilar The graceful movements of 12-year-old Anthony Madu, a boy from Lagos, Nigeria, with a zeal for ballet, are inherently cinematic: arms stretched out to the sky, his body contorting like a determined feather fending off a gust of wind, just before he pirouettes with elegant agility that commands attention.
At school, however, he faces constant bullying since his passion doesn’t fit his country’s traditional gender role expectations.
But thanks to the attention gained from a viral video of him performing, the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in London, England, offers Anthony a scholarship to study abroad with them for the next seven years.
Inevitably, the life-changing opportunity comes with its fair share of thorny repercussions that will reshape his young identity.
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