THE DANCER UPSTAIRS Latin Cinema Series

Based on Nicholas Shakespeare’s adaptation of the eponymous novel, THE DANCER UPSTAIRS marks John Malkovich’s feature directorial debut, starring Academy Award®-nominated actor Javier Bardem (BEFORE NIGHT FALLS) and acclaimed actress Laura Morante (THE SON’S ROOM).

As an unspecified Latin American nation nears collapse under a highly organized terrorist movement, idealistic policeman Agustin Rejas (Bardem) faces the greatest challenge of his career-to catch the mysterious guerilla leader, Ezequiel. The brains behind the bloody revolution that threatens to bring down the government and entire country, Ezequiel is as elusive as Rejas’ superiors are corrupt-an irony not lost on Rejas, who left his career as an attorney to try to find “a more honorable way of practicing the law.” In the midst of the chaos Rejas finds respite in Yolanda (Morante), his daughters soulfully beautiful ballet teacher.

By turns an absorbing political thriller and an intriguing character study of the conflicted Rejas, THE DANCER UPSTAIRS was filmed in Spain, Ecuador and Columbia, creating a deliberately multi-national landscape both behind and in front of the camera.