planet bboy

i watched the documentary: planet bboy today at the melbourne international film festival.

now prior to watching this docco i had seen a lot of trailers and really wanted to watch it, unfortunately it didnt come to melbourne when it was first released, however since then i had heard some negative things about the film according to other bboys, saying that it gives BOTY too much credit and too much importance as the "world cup" of bboying.


for people who have no idea what this film is. it is a docco about a couple of crews and their journey to the "biggest breaking competition" in the world, the battle of the year in hamburg germany. each crew represented their country, the documented ones were gamblerz: the defending champions from korea. Knuckle head zoo from usa. Ichigeki from japan and last4one the underdog crew. now other than potray their journey to this competition, it also gives an insight to the mentality of a bboy all across the world. why they dance, how they got into dance and how it affects the people around them. of course the results vary across the world. but it demonstrates that, even though we are very very far apart in language and our own ethnic culture, bboys still manage to communicate through hiphop.

i missed the first half hour of the docco, which i assume had an explanation of what bboying is from ken swift and a history of the dance from both him and trac2. also the segement on knuckle head zoo i missed too.

i came in just on time to watch last4one's segment, and having seen it, i have gained a lot more respect for last 4 one as bboys.

it was a bit of a biased docco, but still good none the less.

alot of things we can all relate to, and especially for me as a dancer.

i was really impressed by katsu's (ichigeki) mother, saying that he must not dance to win, but dance to dance, if winning is the only thing on his mind, it will show through his dance.

another great quote from the docco i cant remember who it was said by, but i think it was joe-t
he says

"i dance not to make money, i make money to continue dancing"



i encourage everyone who wants to learn more about hiphop culture, breakin/bboying as a dance, to go watch this film somehow.

8/10 for me