RIZE

The narrative being told in the film of RIZE, is one that deals with how exactly a community rises above restrictions like poverty and even death. It’s not so much that the groups that dance in the poor areas depicted in this film become more economically rich because of their dance skills. Rather, they become more psychologically enriched from what they do, which in a sense is emoting through dance rather than through violence. The dance communities in RIZE emote their frustrations as well as their sadness.
I feel that the filmmaker was very successful in connecting the situations that these people as a poor community encounter, with that of dancing in order to get rid of their frustrations through art. If this connecting method on the filmmaker’s part didn’t occur, then the audience wouldn’t quite understand why it is so important that this community have a need to dance; the importance is that the dance is the means by which the community stays together as a functioning unit, no matter what the circumstances are. I know see not only how a community like the ones in poorer parts of California cope, but I’ve learned for my own needs how to cope; how to energize myself so that nothing negative affects me. Really, that’s what the communities in RIZE do; everything for them is a mindset.
The filmmaker’s successes were the fact that they got such good footage; footage that someone like myself never has seen before because I don’t live in any areas were krumping and the like is done. Te dance footage is simply exhilarating; what’s amazing is that the footage remains exhilarating even after the audience learns of certain deaths in the neighborhood. Krumping prevails over anything. I was also amazed that the interview footage was so good. These dancers tell you exactly what they meant to convey by their dance moves; something that other more “professional” dancers have a very hard time of conveying. Maybe it’s so easy for these dancers to express themselves because what they are experiencing is genuine and is a very urgent need, rather than a means to simply show off and gain prestige. Also, the great interview footage may have to do with the ease with which the filmmaker’s have with these individuals. He almost seems to be one of them, and the joking that both interviewer and interviewee partake in is very refreshing to hear because poorer individuals, especially in movies are never depicted at ease in any way which is somewhat insulting.
One particular scene that depicts the movie’s spirit for me is when the man who has started these dance contests learns that his house has been broken into. At first he is overwrought with emotion; he can’t believe that someone would rob the home of a man who is not only a good man at heart, but wants to spread his cause as well. One of his friends says to him that he shouldn’t worry; this is merely one more indication that he should move on to bigger and better things with his cause. There is something so realistic about this moment; these are two human beings actually having a conversation with each other in a movie and one is so not used to this that they may be overwrought with emotion as well. It also depicts what this film is all about; overcoming one’s repressions and feats of sadness in order to live and spread your cause-make your individual mark. The clown man’s cause is actually coming back and helping him out as well, which is the ultimate sign that his cause is important. The film aesthetically is very musical. I felt as if each and every shot was edited to the great pulsating dance beat that these individuals listen to. I wanted to start to dance like them; even though I knew that I ultimately just didn’t have their talent. Some shots are very raw and beautiful much like the spirit of these people.