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HIP HOP-OPERATION (New Zealand 2014) ***
Directed by Bryn Evans

Review by Gilbet Seah

The feel-good crowd pleasing documentary from New Zealand is so-called HP HOP-OPERATION because the film’s subject, a troupe that competes in a hip hop dance championship in Las Vegas is made up of seniors, the oldest of whom is 93, many too who have undergone a hip operation.

The dance troupe is the brainchild of flash mob choreographer Billie Jordan. She ably manages the group. Credit goes to her for everything from her planning, choreography, cheerfulness right down to her financial management and chaperoning of the seniors down to Las Vegas. Her motivation occurred during her experience of an earthquake while in Christchurch. She chose to cherish life. Jordan and the seniors are from an island in New Zealand called Waiheke Island. The film includes some footage from the film that shows the island and its surrounding and like everything in New Zealand – the scenes are stunning and pretty.

HIP HOP-OPERATION is an ok documentary that is clearly running out of material within the first 30 minutes. Director Evans fills in the gap be selecting a few of the participants and have them talk about their younger days. One assumes that he has chosen carefully the half dozen or so from the 80.

The film includes limited footage of other hip hop artists performing in Las Vegas. The reason is obvious. They will overshadow Hip Hop-operation. The seniors are not that good – they are so-so but if one factors the age into the equation, the group is phenomenal. The best thing abut the performance is the support of the spectators. The camera spends an equal amount of time on the reaction of the spectators, especially the astonished look on the faces when they experience aged seniors on stage doing hip hop. Hip Hop-operation rocks – that is the unanimous reaction of the spectators.

Does Evans film also rock? Not really. As mentioned, the material is limited and there is little research that needs to be done of the subject. It is a simple film simply executed. But no critic, myself include wants to be a sourpuss in taking down a film which has so much heart. And this fluff does have more than its share of delightful, feel good moments.

The participants also give themselves hip hop names. The participants or the cast includes the following with their age in brackets:
Kara “Bang Bang” Nelson (94, with cane)
Maynie “Quicksilver” Thompson (95)
Terri “2-cents” Wool-Moore Goodwin (94)
Eileen “Diva mystic” Evans (84)
Rosemary “Missy Ro-Yo” McKenzie (74)
Billie ‘Billie J Buzz” Jordan (44)

The film is also supported by local New Zealand hip hop artists such as Dziah and Krash who also entered in the Las Vegas championships .

The film has understandably won many audience popularity awards in the festivals that it has been showcased. The film also won the Best New Zealand documentary Award.

 

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