Dirty Dancing is far from the best acted, directed, or plot
driven movie out there, even during the period it was released. All of these
things are at times are quite week. There is a time though for most young
people where they need to feel their voice is heard and that they are
understood for the lives they live. Dirty Dancing was a movie made at the right
time, with the right kind of chemistry and theme that expressed the feelings of
many young people and had many of them going back to the theater over and over to
see it. It expressed their attitudes about adult authority, growing up, and
finding ones self. It was one of those movies where word of mouth made a tremendous
difference in its success.
Jennifer Grey, playing Baby is noted most recently for her
participation in Dancing with the Stars. Screen legend Patrick Swayze plays
Johnny in this the bad boy good girl forbidden couple story. Baby comes from a
well to do family where her father is a doctor and Johnny is fast driving bad
boy who also teaches and entertains with dance at an elitist Summer Camp. A
series of events ultimately brings the two together and one of Johnny's friends
and dance partners has to have an abortion. Baby volunteers over 3 weeks to
learn to dance with Johnny. At this point Dirty Dancing moves into a theme of
class acceptance as Johnny and his friends come from one side of society and
Baby, her friends and family come from another. It is a play on Romeo and
Juliette made famous by a fellow a few years ago named William Shakespeare. The
themes of forbidden love have been prevalent for years. Dirty Dancing played on the usage of
provocative dancing with a strange mixture of 70's and 80's music mixed into a
soundtrack that took place predominantly in the 50's and 60's. The movie in many ways also resembles another
popular coming of age story and musical, West Side Story where we see the
Italian boy falling into forbidden love with a Jewish girl. Dirty Dancing is if
you will, a contemporary blend of the two stories.
I have a couple of additional interests in the movie. The
film used dancers from a dance troop from my wife's home town including some
dancers I went to high school with. It was filmed in a community, Hendersonville, Lake
Lure North Carolina
where I had lived and spent a lot of time. While the dancing is wonderful,
albeit out of period to some extent, I am also keenly aware of the beautiful
landscape in the area. It was filmed in
the same location as The Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis, but takes
little advantage of the scenery in the area. I have often wondered, what was it
about Dirty Dancing that had it having the impact to drive millions to the
theater?
Looking back over the years I think it was the viewers identification with the
need to discover their own identity. They wanted to be who they wanted to be as
opposed to who others wanted them to be.
It is a theme that has been played out many times before, it will be
again. There have been times that
various things has set this attitude in motion, this time, it was a movie. We
see this especially in the movie in Baby and Johnny. There are other characters
we see it, some quite well, then there are the antagonists who think things are
fine and they are fine having to meet the expectations of others.
Looking back over the years I think it was the viewers identification with the
need to discover their own identity. They wanted to be who they wanted to be as
opposed to who others wanted them to be.
It is a theme that has been played out many times before, it will be
again. There have been times that
various things has set this attitude in motion, this time, it was a movie. We
see this especially in the movie in Baby and Johnny. There are other characters
we see it, some quite well, then there are the antagonists who think things are
fine and they are fine having to meet the expectations of others.
I appreciated Johnny's character, he is has always looked
down on to the point where some on the other side of the tracks may see him
either as a sex object, bad boy, or one to simply make a profit from. Few see
him as one with talents, abilities and desires. Many in society go through
phases, and more times than not the reality of feeling rejection and being held
back, not seen as people of value with the ability to be productive and decide
for themselves. Even at times the church and related faith groups seem to
discourage people in their individual search, without recognizing the people.
The rules, the thou shalt not's, and the religious expectations which fall into
the norm are presented as the only options while holding back individualistic
identity. When one feels that their freedoms are taken away, they rebel, just
as in the case of Dirty Dancing. It isn't that the rebellion is bad, it is the
price that some will pay though to experience their freedom. Often times, just like spoken about in the
book of Romans chapter 7, when some are given the freedom to be themselves,
through Christ, then they will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of
certain rules and guidelines, but that comes more completely when they have experienced
freedom. We see this in a way in the
conclusion of the film between Baby and her father when he realizes his role in
not understanding the truth of what is going on and his own imprisonment of
Baby's spirit.
If we are made in the image of God, which the Bible states we are, we need to
remember, that often times, the talents, abilities and desires often come from
God. It is evident in the case of Baby, she can dance, it is something she
loves, yet she is discouraged from doing it the way she wants due to the
perceptions of others. While there may be legitimacy to the style, it is still
an expression of her individuality, which is used to later also learn a more
classic style. While the love affair
between her and Johnny may ultimately have limitations, she loves being with
him and he with her because of the challenges they present to each other. In Dirty Dancing there is also the themes of standing up for the hurting, even if they have made mistakes. We also see themes of class struggle. A rich little, well to do Italian guy gets a poor little Jewish girl pregnant and in need of an abortion. While the movie seems to take a pro abortion stance, I don't see it that way, it shows what is perceived as the limited options of some, yet the entitlement options of others based on wealth. We do see a botched abortion and while some can see that as a horrible thing, it is presented as a theme plot which in some ways, causes Baby to fully address her own acceptance by her father as a result of her involvement of him in the scenario. Not all is well, assumptions are made, while Baby's desire to help someone may be different, it ultimately causes Baby to reflect further on the differences between her generation and the generation of those of her mother and father. A never ending story that seems to exist with every generation. There is a lesson here though, a lesson to make sure we understand what is going on prior to jumping to conclusions about right and wrong.
Now it should be clear; I don't think Dirty Dancing is a very
good movie from a theatrical or technical perspective. I would say though, it
is in the running for one of the best bad movie ever made. Despite the acting,
plot, crazy inconsistent blend of music, I still enjoy this movie after the 25+
years. That should tell us all something, it isn't always the best and most
well intended efforts that drives us on to success, sometimes it can be the not
so great, the weak, if at the right time, in the right place, with the right
voice. It isn't that way just with movies though, it is that way with us as individuals.
We may not be the most talented of the bunch, but if we pay close attention,
listen to our surroundings, maybe we can express a thought a voice or action
that will impact those around us. Dirty Dancing certainly did that, it knew the
hearts of youth, it played on that reoccurring theme and took advantage of the
time. Fortunately for the movie, as long as there are children, parents, and
bad boys or girls from the other side of the tracks, those themes and need to
address those themes will always exist. For me, as a person of faith, maybe it
is time that I/we, learn to hear those voices, respond accordingly,
understanding the need of all of us to be free.
Maybe, just maybe, we can learn that the freedom we encourage, will
allow, maybe move some, to know the freedoms we speak of. Then again, maybe
some will be challenged to reflect on the assumptions they have made, how they
could have been wrong, and that the relationships we value the most have been
impacted by our own willingness to be stubborn and not give in to an attitude
of understanding, acceptance, and if you will, ultimate love which allows those
we love, to be free.To see an interesting take on Dirty Dancing by the late Patrick Swayze click on the video below, if the video doesn't work, click on the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usT4UMaIIJE
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