Mao’s Last Dancer (2009) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Mao’s Last Dancer is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG. Mao’s Last Dancer follows the true story of Li Cunxin, who is taken from his impoverished village at age 11 to train at a rigorous dance academy in Beijing. While the film is largely a biographical drama about ballet…

Mao’s Last Dancer is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.

Mao’s Last Dancer follows the true story of Li Cunxin, who is taken from his impoverished village at age 11 to train at a rigorous dance academy in Beijing. While the film is largely a biographical drama about ballet and personal ambition, it contains intense sequences involving political imprisonment and…

The film contains mild sensuality. Li shares passionate kisses with his girlfriend, and there is a brief, awkward conversation about sex where she explains how a man and woman conceive a baby.

Violence is largely emotional and psychological, though it includes a brief, disturbing dream sequence featuring a threatened execution. Li is also shown being physically detained and handled roughly by consular guards in one pivotal scene.

Language is infrequent but includes some stronger terms than typical for the rating, such as an instance of the 'b-word', occasional uses of 'shit', and mild profanity like 'ass' and 'hell'.

There is incidental smoking shown in a few scenes.

The film deals with intense, mature themes including the separation of children from their parents, life under a restrictive communist regime, political defection, and the constant, crushing fear of state-sponsored retaliation.

Mao’s Last Dancer runs 117 minutes, directed by Bruce Beresford, released in 2009.

Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.