YELLOW

US, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.

Roselyn Sanchez, Bill Duke, D.B.Sweeney, Jamie Tirelli, Sully Diaz, Richard Petrocelli, Nancy Milan, Erika Michels.

Directed by Alfredo De Villa.

Amaryllis means yellow. And that is the name of the central character, a young woman from Puerto Rico, trained as a dancer by her proud father who was a ballet dancer, crippled, killing himself. She delivers fast food in San Juan, has a boyfriend, discovers that he is with her mother after her father’s death. A friend helps her go to New York.

This is a film about lost souls – some of whom find some hope. However, it is one of those dramas which audiences could bypass. With a focus on ballet dancing, and the plot taking Amaryllis into a strip bar with pole dancing, plenty of ogling scenes with the men in the audience, it is something of having its cake and eating it.

There is also a subplot concerning Bill Duke as a professor, writer of poetry, mental decline, keeping to himself though volunteering for charity work, encountering Amaryllis and giving her a place to stay. He is alienated from his son who returns, criticises his father, reconciles.

There is also a doctor who goes to the club, has a relationship with a dancer, becomes infatuated with Amaryllis.

But… She has an audition for a Broadway show, exhibits dancing schools and is hired. (The actress, Roselyn Sanchez supplied the story.)