Step Up

I’m a cinephile.  Pure and simple.  Not just any cinephile.  I’m an elitist cinephile.  Proud of it.  I grew up on movies.  Every Saturday trekking to the Beacham Theatre in downtown Orlando.  Of course, that was a looong time ago…way before cineplexes.  Back when there was only one theatre, showing one movie.  Back when there were news shorts before the showing.

Basically, high school date night was a movie, followed by a visit to Steak n’ Shake checking out who was there.  Back then, there was only one Steak ’n Shake on good ole Orange Blossom Trail.  Now, there are eight.

Forgive me.  I digress.  Buff Honey shares my love of film, although he’s not so elitist.  We used to go weekly, sometimes twice weekly to see a movie.  Tuesday’s the cheap senior day…Tightwad Tuesdays.  We’re regulars.

This summer has been the worst.  I am sick of Marvel comics, Superheroes, Apes acting more human than humans, stupid horror movies, omnipresent gratuitous violence. Done and done.  Every week, it’s basically the same conversation.  “Sugar, I think I’m going to see a movie but I don’t think you’d like it.”

Fine.  I’ll read a book.  Then, he comes home, swearing he’ll never go to another superhero/ape/horror movie again.  Duh….

I have seen two worthwhile movies this summer and one beautiful one.  The Big Sick was great fun; Maudie was less fun but much more substantive.  When my kids asked me about Maudie, I hesitated for a moment trying to explain it.  The immediately asked in stereo, “Is it about old love?”  What do I say to that?  Yes…but….so much more.

And, then, Step, hit the screen.  The Washington Post gave it four stars.  That happens about twice a year, usually late in the year when the Oscar hopefuls finally debut.

So, yesterday, I went with my two kids, Justin and Chelsea, after my grandson’s fourth birthday party.  In Baltimore, the setting for the movie, at The Charles Theatre.  Basically, I knew it was a documentary that highlighted the senior year of three teenage girls who attended the charter, Baltimore School of Leadership for Young Women.

All three young women were members of the step dance team that had never won a competition despite hours of commitment.  All three were striving to be the first person in their families to attend college.  All three were determined to get out of the inner city.  They were dogged by their principal, their step team coach, and by their guidance counselor who, against all odds, did whatever she could to get these girls into higher ed institutions.

The authenticity of this movie defies credulity.  The viewer is in their homes, witnessing how tough it can be to stay on course when your mom suffers from depression, your stepfather loses his job, the bills pile up, there’s no food in the house.  

And, yet, there’s this spark that keeps them going.  There’s this tremendous effort to stay on track and not succumb to easy sex or fly into a rage when you feel dissed by another member of the dance team.  It’s a movie about hope.  And, boy, does it deliver.

About mid way, tears were streaming down my face…like they are right now.  My kids got pretty emotional, as well.  At the end of the movie, the audience erupted into applause.  My daughter declared, “I feel these girls are my friends.”  Yeah, it’s that good.

I pray these girls make it.  Having taught in the inner city, I know there are thousands more just like them.  Most of them without the support of the amazing leaders at BSLYW.  I remember how talented, how expressive, how smart so many of my urban high school students were.  They were fighting overwhelming odds.

After this horrific weekend, I think every person in this country, especially, the President, would  benefit from watching this astounding and uplifting movie.  Kudos to the documentarian and more kudos to the families for inviting us into their homes.  This one will stay with me for a long time.

It could be me.  It could be you.