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How do you cope when faced with an overwhelming situation—like the looming threat of your own murder, sudden paralysis, or the unsettling reality that everyone around you looks flawless, their skin tinged gold from "drinking water," while you feel like an outsider? Do you confide in a therapist, seeking guidance to navigate your unique passion? Dance? Or do you find solace in humor, using jokes as a shield against absurdity and fear?
Set in 1984 suburban Aotearoa, New Zealand, Ave Marie follows adopted siblings Marie and Xavier as they use dance to escape their mother’s religious rants and the neighborhood bullies. While the tough and determined Xavier insists on being the center of every dance routine and fights the BMX gang for his right to wear lycra, Marie yearns to shine as well. When their staunchly Catholic mother leaves them home alone for another funeral, Marie seizes her chance. With a bit of faith and a powerful soundtrack, Marie must choose between saving Xavier from his own destructive path or helping him confront the BMX gang. Can the power of dance achieve what fists cannot?
How do you cope when faced with an overwhelming situation—like the looming threat of your own murder, sudden paralysis, or the unsettling reality that everyone around you looks flawless, their skin tinged gold from "drinking water," while you feel like an outsider? Do you confide in a therapist, seeking guidance to navigate your unique passion? Dance? Or do you find solace in humor, using jokes as a shield against absurdity and fear?
Set in 1984 suburban Aotearoa, New Zealand, Ave Marie follows adopted siblings Marie and Xavier as they use dance to escape their mother’s religious rants and the neighborhood bullies. While the tough and determined Xavier insists on being the center of every dance routine and fights the BMX gang for his right to wear lycra, Marie yearns to shine as well. When their staunchly Catholic mother leaves them home alone for another funeral, Marie seizes her chance. With a bit of faith and a powerful soundtrack, Marie must choose between saving Xavier from his own destructive path or helping him confront the BMX gang. Can the power of dance achieve what fists cannot?