Desert Dancer (Original Soundtrack)

Set in Iran, this powerful and unbelievable true story follows the brave ambition of Afshin Ghaffarian. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms were threatened, Afshin and some friends (including Elaheh, played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company. The original score includes the music for three extended dance sequences featured in the film, especially created for the movie as a collaboration between Wallfisch and award winning choreographer Akram Khan, whose credits include the choreography for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. "My collaboration with Benjamin Wallfisch started years before I began shooting Desert Dancer," emphasizes director Richard Raymond. "Long passionate discussions with Ben - and his responses to those discussions - were the very first building blocks in the creation of this project. For me, Ben's music was a fundamental part of the creative process. He has managed to convey the tragedy that is an entire generation of youth unable to express themselves artistically in a free society, but also their nobility and their perseverance for artistic truth. The youth of Iran are the heroes of this story and this score is a tribute to them. Both Ben and I have a love of cinema, powerful images and emotive music. It's been a delight to create something born of that love with such an accomplished composer."