First Position
Sundance Selects | Release Date: May 4, 2012 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
18
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerMay 4, 2012
I've become weary of documentaries about winning prizes, but this one is special because the kids are. Read full review
88
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe WilliamsMay 18, 2012
Among recent documentaries, First Position soars to the head of the class. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubAlison WillmoreMay 2, 2012
Fortunately, first-time filmmaker Bess Kargman has selected a diverse array of competitors from different backgrounds who have significant talent in common. Read full review
80
MovielineStephanie ZacharekMay 4, 2012
Documentaries don't have to be technically great to be irresistible, and Bess Kargman's First Position, which follows six young ballet dancers as they prepare for an elite competition, is a case in point. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranMay 3, 2012
These performers are so young, so serious, so full of dreams and so hard on themselves that it is difficult not to be moved by their striving. Read full review
80
TimeMary PolsMay 3, 2012
First-time director Kargman triumphs by picking characters who largely defy expectations. Read full review
80
VarietyAlissa SimonApr 28, 2012
The picture combines the built-in drama, tension and suspense of documentaries such as "Spellbound" with exciting, beautifully lensed variations performed by the virtuosos of the future. Read full review
75
The PlaylistKevin JagernauthJul 23, 2012
First Position is a simple, but effective portrait of ambition and determination in an art form where the stakes are high and the rewards are few. Read full review
75
Washington PostAmy HittMay 11, 2012
Forget that "reality" show about young dancers on the Lifetime channel. First Position, a debut documentary from Bess Kargman, is the real thing. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleAllan UlrichMay 10, 2012
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of First Position is the relationship between aspirant and teacher. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerEllen DunkelMay 10, 2012
First Position shows the dancers' emotions, but it is weaker in building the suspense of the competition. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy BurrMay 10, 2012
Because its subjects are so driven and so talented, First Position, which is about ballet, is more gripping than the norm. Read full review
75
New York PostFarran Smith NehmeMay 4, 2012
The movie still seems fresh in the way it respects both the art in ballet and the discipline it demands - even in childhood. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineJohn SemleyMay 4, 2012
The documentary twists out its six narrative threads with measured compassion and even-handedness. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinMay 7, 2012
Kargman is light on her feet, and she has chosen to follow a fascinating group of kids preparing for the 2010 Youth America Grand Prix. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckMay 5, 2012
First Position overcomes its predictable elements thanks to the inherent visual drama of watching children strain their bodies to the limit in obsessive pursuit of their goals. Read full review
70
The New York TimesManohla DargisMay 3, 2012
An appealing, largely upbeat documentary about young ballet dancers duking it out. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesMay 23, 2012
It's a wealth of material at odds with a scant running time and shallow focus. Read full review
60
NPRLinda HolmesMay 8, 2012
It's a simple and lovely movie, and particularly for people who haven't seen "Spellbound," it's a great introduction to the intriguing mix of parents - neurotic, loving, pressuring, calming - who raise great kids who do great things. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierMay 3, 2012
Their devotion to their art is admirable, and the film gets under the skin, if never really in our blood. Read full review
60
Time OutJoshua RothkopfMay 1, 2012
The documentary feels preprogrammed when it could have been a real-life Black Swan. Read full review
50
Village VoiceNick SchagerMay 1, 2012
The result is a film that eschews in-depth insight in favor of easily digestible who's-going-to-win suspense, a tack that's aided by Kargman's rather poignant (and visually graceful) evocation of pre-performance anxiety but ultimately leaves the material feeling deflated once the winners emerge. Read full review
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