Confession. A guilty pleasure of mine is watching YouTube videos of b-boys (and girls) dancing. I appreciate the smooth moves, the body control, the intricate choreography, and the insane athleticism. As Ken Swift, an OG breaker, says in the 2008 documentary Planet B-Boy, "Breaking is a legitimate dance - as legitimate as any other dance that has existed."
Planet B-Boy takes the viewer around the globe as dance crews from different countries prepare to compete for Battle of the Year, the World Cup of breakdancing. It is held every year in Germany with little fanfare outside of those who actually care. The competitors aren't even put up in hotels; they are afforded mattresses on the floor of of an elementary school and they practice in the school gym. There is a grand total of 3000 euros for the winners. But try telling these people that their dreams are small in the grand scheme of things. To them, dancing is something they've dedicated their entire lives to; it's what they love, how they express themselves, and what drives them.
We get to learn a little bit about each of the crews, what dance means to them and how it differs from country to country. For instance, the French are known for their artistry, the Koreans for their powerful moves and the Japanese for their innovation and energy. While they may be from opposite corners of the world, they understand each other through dance. As you would expect, a common theme of the film is the universal language of dance, how it crosses borders and can bring people together. The French crew, Phase T, has a young white kid in their group. His mother admits her apprehension to the idea of her son hanging out with a bunch of big black guys. His teammates were "6 feet tall and black, black, black." Her son is "petite and blonde, blonde, blonde." She's since come around to the idea. And there are of course the compelling individual stories. One Korean dancer dances for honor hoping to make his father proud. A Japanese dancer dances for his dead father's memory.
The highlight of the film obviously is the dancing which is of course amazing. Throughout the film we see the crews practice routines and individual dancers doing their things, but in moderation, balanced nicely between the lengthy exposition. When the crews finally arrive in Germany and the competition begins, you pretty much get a highlight reel of amazing dance moves till a winner is crowned. But this movie isn't about who wins or loses at the end. It is to show the passion and common bond these people have for dancing and it shows big time.
Grade: B+
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