3 a.m. in Texas, in a basement club covered in graffiti, six b-boys compete against each other to an old-school hip-hop beat. "The cops won't let them finish," says one fan. So the breakers take it to the streets. "Are you on beat? Are you original? Are you executing clean?", says founder of the competition, Romeo, "most of all I want to see the beat of the heart". And with such passion involved, breakdancing is always one step away from brawling. "If you can hold yourself down in battle, you can hold yourself down in life", warns Romeo.

"Josh spins on his head clockwise, I do it counter-clockwise", says Omar. "It was kind of like watching a mirror", Josh adds. On probation for assaulting a teacher, Josh can't dance as often as he likes. "I feel like I'm one big walking flaw", he admits, "dancing is the only thing I've ever been complimented on". Omar's Mexican father doesn't want his focus to stray from college, but "I won't stop dancing or hold myself back for anyone", Omar vows.

At the B-boy city finals, Josh and Omar battle. "I gave him his props, he was doing his stuff", says Josh, "but he threw my hat on the floor". Without a hat, floor work is painful, Josh struggles and Omar's crew are victorious. "It's called a battle", Omar defends, "it's not 'friends dancing in a circle'". Omar's star is rising whilst Josh battles more and more with the law.

"Half of breaking is intimidating your opponent", explains Romeo, "people know that if they make Josh angry, he'll lose his flow". Battling with his temper and on constant probation due to violent outbursts, Josh is driven by the jealousy of his one-time best friend. "If they're going to fly me out to Europe, then they must have faith in me", says Omar. "This guy is the best all-round breaker I've seen in a long time", says the founder of the International Breaking Event.

Finally, Josh gets an offer of a job with a dance company at Universal Studios but his probation prevents him from leaving Texas. When Josh and Omar's paths cross once more for a competition in Florida, Omar softens: "I can only imagine what he's going through". "I've still got his back", says Josh. Omar goes on to win the b-boy world championships and after completing his probation, Josh embarks upon a successful dance career in LA. Fascinating, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring.

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Best Film, New Orleans Int'l Human Rights Film Festival, 2008
Audience Choice Award, South By Southwest Film Festival, 2007
Audience Choice Award, San Diego Film Festival, 2007

"Find this movie and watch it" - AIN'T IT COOL NEWS

"One of the most energetic, kinetic films I've seen" - JETTE KERNION, CINEMATICAL.COM

"Inside The Circle is everything a documentary should be" - AUSTINIST.COM