On the surface, "Planet B-Boy" is about dancing, specifically, "breaking." Taken as a whole, however, this documentary by New York filmmaker Benson Lee is about much, much more. It is about history, race, culture, globalization and economics, to name just a few things.

Lee traces the history of break dancing from its emergence in the late 1960s and early '70s to its place as a global phenomenon. According to Lee in a phone interview, breaking began with young African-Americans and Puerto Ricans in the Bronx imitating the "dance-offs" various gangs would have before they actually fought. Taking the baton from African-Americans and putting their own spin on it, the Puerto Ricans were the ones who, according to Lee, "brought it to the ground." That is, the back spinning, etc. that has become emblematic of break dancing was incorporated by Puerto Ricans. Other heavy influences were the dancing of James Brown, martial arts and gymnastics. Today, as is evident in the film, there are even more influences, such as classical Korean dance, Middle Eastern dance and Bushido, among others. The term "B-boy," explained Lee, comes from "beat boy." Back when DJs would spin music, there would be an instrumental interlude (just beats) that the young people would dance to. DJs used two turntables to extend the time that beats would play because of their popularity with the young dancers. Hence the term, "beat-boy," which was then shortened to "B-boy."

The film follows four break dancing crews as they get ready and finally face off against, each other at the annual break dancing "Battle of The Year," which takes place in Germany. There are two from Korea, one from Japan and one from the United States. The film chronicles the sacrifices they must make in order to pursue this passion of theirs. This includes the estrangement from family and a society that tends to look down on break dancing.

Filled with footage of dazzling displays of energy, creativity and athleticism of these young men — it is a pleasure to watch just on a visceral level. However, Lee also delves into their personal lives, showing us how this particular avocation can affect family, community and society.

One of the most salient scenes was one in which a white mother admits that she was at first reluctant to let her "blond, blond, blond" son, who was enamored with break dancing, have anything to do with the six-foot-tall "Black, Black, Black" breakers. In the face of her son's determination though, she was forced to let him follow his heart and eventually learned to reserve judgment about people until she actually knew them.

We also get a glimpse at how the ongoing military threat from North Korea affects the lives of young men in South Korea. There are also hints that resentments about events of decades past between Japan and Korean continue to simmer just beneath the surface. Commentators in the film repeatedly point out the amazing way in which the Asians came out of nowhere to take such a prominent place in the breaking world. The viewer almost cannot help but draw a parallel between this and the way in which Asian countries have also seemingly come out of nowhere to take a place of prominence in the global economic hierarchy.

The director, Benson Lee, who admits to being pretty much self-taught when it comes to filmmaking, manages to get all of this across using the lightest of touches and allows viewers to take from the film whatever they want to get from it. Just from a cultural standpoint, this is a must-see film.

"Planet B-Boy" will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, April 28 at their drive-in feature at the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan. All tickets are free. Before the free screening, there will be a tribute to James Brown, one of the foremost inspirations to break dancers worldwide. B-Boy crews will perform, and the event will be hosted by Fab 5 Freddy. In addition, a B-Boy party/battle — the "Battle for Tribeca" — is scheduled for Friday night, April 27, at Webster Hall, where break dancing crews from the film will go up against NYC break dancing crews. After the battle will be longest Soul Train line ever created. It will be filmed as part of the DVD extras. There will also be regular screenings at locations throughout Lower Manhattan for the duration of the Tribeca Film Festival (April 25-May 6).

For more info about "Planet B-Boy" and corresponding events, go to www.planetbboy.com or www.myspace.com/planetbboy. For general information about the Tribeca Film Festival, go to www.tribecafilmfestival.org or call 866-941-FEST. Webster Hall is located at 125 E. 11th Street.

PHOTO (COLOR)

~~~~~~~~

By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AmNews