Bobbi Jene

There may be an intriguing, perhaps even profound story behind Smith's growth as a singular artist and woman, but director Elvira Lind keeps too much on the surface, making it hard to invest in Smith's often esoteric, self-centered journey.

It doesn't know what it wants to be, or what story it wants to tell.

"Bobbi Jene" may interest viewers who are well versed in contemporary dance. All others are on their own.

Bobbi Jene gives you a taste of how a choreographer works, but mainly registers how she feels.

"I want to get to the place where I have no strength to hide anything," she says of her work. Yet as a portrait of real life, "Bobbi Jene" doesn't require her to be very revealing, and she doesn't volunteer it.

The dance is fascinating. The dance? Not so much. And the director is the only one who doesn't seem to see that.

Remains fuzzy about its aims.

The dancer Bobbi Jene is a gift to us all; the film, alas, not much of a gift at all.

Truthful, compelling and personal, Bobbi Jene is a vital portrait of an inspiring artist.

... far too often, Bobbi Jene veers dangerously close to a feature length melodrama overly insistent on uplift, rather than on the continual poignancy Smith's solo dance performances seem to evoke.

Fans steeped in the world of modern dance will probably find nothing revelatory here, but for those of us who are strangers to it Lind has artfully created a portrait of a crucial moment in a dancer's life.

Bobbi's failures, goodbyes, successes and reconciliations are beguiling, often heartbreaking to witness, but ultimately, it's the artist's thrilling dedication to her craft that offers the most sublime state of grace.