Rhythm Is It!


Rhythm Is It! is a 2004 German documentary film directed by and Enrique Sánchez Lansch. The film documents a project undertaken by conductor Simon Rattle and choreographer Royston Maldoom to stage a performance of Stravinsky's La sacre du Printemps with a cast of 250 children recruited from Berlin's public schools.

Film

In February 2003, a project began to stage Stravinsky's ballet La sacre du Printemps in a live performance played by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by their chief conductor Chefdirigent Sir Simon Rattle, and danced by 250 children and young adults from 25 countries who had no experience in dance. The films shows the rehearsals of the young dancers with choreographer Royston Maldoom and his team, the social background of selected dancers, part of the performance and the joy afterwards. The choreographer demands much from the young people, provoking dedication and discipline which is new to many of them.

Release

In Germany the film was released in theatres in September 2004, and by February 2005 it sold 400,000 tickets. The film also won several prizes, including two for Best Editing and Best Documentary at the 2005 German Film Awards.

Awards