Monkey Dance
Encyclopedia
Monkey Dance is a 2004
documentary film by Julie Mallozzi
, a filmmaker based in Boston
. The film follows three Cambodian-American teens growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts
as they face the challenges of urban
America, learn from traditional culture
and dance, and reflect on the sacrifices of their parents, survivors of the Khmer Rouge
.
The Angkor Dance Troupe in Lowell, and other artists of traditional Cambodian folkloric dance, play centrally in the film as a unifying peaceful, historical, and creative activity for the youngsters and community.
Monkey Dance premiered on public television in May 2005 and has shown at numerous festivals, schools, museums, and youth organizations.
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
documentary film by Julie Mallozzi
Julie Mallozzi
Julie Mallozzi is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, artist and teacher based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is of Chinese and Italian-American descent and was raised in Ohio....
, a filmmaker based in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The film follows three Cambodian-American teens growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
as they face the challenges of urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
America, learn from traditional culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and dance, and reflect on the sacrifices of their parents, survivors of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
.
The Angkor Dance Troupe in Lowell, and other artists of traditional Cambodian folkloric dance, play centrally in the film as a unifying peaceful, historical, and creative activity for the youngsters and community.
Monkey Dance premiered on public television in May 2005 and has shown at numerous festivals, schools, museums, and youth organizations.
Filmmaker's viewpoint
Further reading
- Gewertz, Ken, "'Monkey Dance' illuminates refugees' lives: Documentary film focuses on three Cambodian teenagers", Harvard University Gazette, Harvard News Office, October 7. 2004
- "Julie Mallozzi's 'Monkey Dance'", Mass Humanities, The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, Fall 2001