There have been a handful of great documentaries about b-boys, most notable The Freshest Kids, which traces the history of the b-boy, and Planet B-Boy, which examines how breaking has grown into a global cultural movement. Both films are great in their own way, enough so that you might think there wasn't the need for another documentary about b-boys. But director Marcy Garriott's Inside the Circle has emerged as an equally essential story within the world of b-boys.

Garriott's film takes place in Austin, Texas, a city that one hardly thinks of when thinking of b-boys or breakdancing. But that is part of what makes the film work. By focusing on a city that doesn't readily come to mind when thinking about hip-hop in any of its permutations, Garriott immediately sets the stage for the profound impact b-boy culture has had on the world.

Inside the Circle profiles three young men. First, there is Romeo Navarro, a dancer-turned-promoter who runs the annual B-Boy City competitions in Austin. Romeo is integral to the story in that he has helped foster the community from which Omar Davila and Josh Ayers, Garriott's other subjects, have sprung. Both still in their teens, Omar and Josh are good friends, but as they grow older and further apart, they become rivals. Josh is a kid with a temper, who keeps finding himself in trouble with the law. Much of time that Josh should be spending perfecting his dance skills are spent in juvenile detention. By contrast, Omar manages to stay on the right side of the law, and he soon becomes a regional b-boy legend, eventually becoming a global phenomenon.

While the dancing in Inside the Circle is amazing--incredible displays of acrobatics, rhythms and macho bravado--the real story is the human drama in the lives of Josh and Omar. Josh is a talented kid, with some impressive moves on the floor, but his anger issues and his inability to stay out of trouble not only threaten his dance career, but his very freedom. He is a frustrating kid that is too smart to be acting so stupid, and watching him potentially throw his life away is nothing short of sad. Meanwhile, there is Omar, who seems to be blessed by the b-boy gods. While Josh deals with probation issues and leads the nomadic life of a couch-surfing teen, Omar travels the world, becoming a superstar in the b-boy world. His father, a Mexican immigrant, wants Omar to go to college and take on an honorable profession, but even he can see that there is no stopping his son's star from shining.

Inside the Circle is at times as much about b-boys and breaking as it is about the lives of two young men coping with the difficulties of growing up. This is where the film gets its heart and soul, lending an undeniable humanity to the documented history of b-boys. Garriott does a great job of balancing the dance floor action with the human drama, creating a documentary that is both exciting and endearing. But what she also does is show how an underground art form born in the Bronx has become an instrumental part of the lives of people all over the world, growing into a global community.

Video:
Inside the Circle is presented 4:3 full frame aspect ratio. The film appears to have been shot on video originally, and the DVD looks to have been mastered directly from video, as it does not have the grainy look of a video-to-film-to-video transfer.

Audio:
Inside the Circle is presented in 2.0 stereo. The sound transfer is good, with a clean mix and consistent levels throughout.

Bonus Material:
For those wanting nothing but pure dance action, "B-Boy City Highlights" (30 min.) is a non-stop showcase of b-boys and b-girls performing incredible move after incredible move. "CROS1: Freestylin' It" (11 min.) feature an interview with CROS1, a promoter who has put together one of the most intense b-boy competitions in the world. Neither of these extras are throwaways, as both feature some amazing dance work that is sure to entertain fans.

Final Thoughts:
If you are a fan of b-boying, or breakdancing, or whatever you want to call it, then you'd definitely want to check out Inside the Circle. But even if you are not a fan, or just unfamiliar with the culture or the art, this film is well worth watching. In much the same way you don't have to like basketball to enjoy Hoop Dreams, you don't have to appreciate breaking to enjoy Inside the Circle.