Dancing in Jaffa
Sundance Selects | Release Date: April 11, 2014 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenApr 17, 2014
A documentary that doesn't force-feed its message of hope but genuinely earns it. Read full review
90
Village VoiceDaphne HowlandApr 3, 2014
Medalia, as an Israeli, knows this bumpy territory well and serves up her story sensitively, but with its difficulties unvarnished and unsolved. She focuses on a few children whom we get to know well enough to care very much about their progress. Read full review
80
CineVueJulia AlexanderFeb 18, 2015
Dancing in Jaffa is a wonderfully insightful documentary that explores a side of geopolitical tensions in a completely new light. Like Dulaine's teachings, the feeling of hope, the promise of light at the end of the tunnel, never diminishes. Read full review
80
VarietyRonnie ScheibApr 17, 2014
A surprising, well-crafted documentary. Read full review
75
Washington PostStephanie MerryApr 24, 2014
While the movie can feel disjointed at times, bouncing around to cover so much territory, the climax of the kids’s ballroom competition makes up for any quibbles. If nothing else, it’s heartening to see the kids so transformed. Read full review
75
Boston GlobePeter KeoughApr 24, 2014
“So how are you going to get them to dance together?” Dancing never explains how. Instead, as in similar films such as “Hoop Dreams,” it focuses on the contest, reducing the participants to a handful of representative kids who end up learning something about themselves and others. Read full review
70
The New York TimesAndy WebsterApr 10, 2014
Predictably, the film culminates in a dance competition, irresistible to behold and leading to an ending just about too pat to believe. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckApr 4, 2014
While the film doesn’t dig deeply enough into the myriad political and social issues it raises, it’s nonetheless warmly entertaining, thanks to Dulaine’s ever genial presence and the irresistible appeal of watching young children overcome their instilled fears and prejudices. Read full review
60
EmpireDavid ParkinsonFeb 9, 2015
Exasperatingly trite, but also rather sweet. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierApr 10, 2014
When the grade-school kids are Israelis and Palestinians, the initially reluctant, moving duets they finally perform make you feel like, yes, dancing. Read full review
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