Shall We Dansu (1996)
April 23rd, 2007
This is the Japanese original of this ballroom dancing flick, not the 2004 US remake. With English subtitles.
Here’s what the title shot looks like. I think it is pronounced “Shall We Dansu,” although the poster simply has it as “Shall We Dance.”
A prologue explains that most Japanese are too reserved to dance in public. Salaryman Sugiyama is married with a daughter, a good job and a house in the suburbs, but something is missing. From the subway platform he spies Mai, the beautiful, melancholy dancing teacher, and a new phase of his life begins.
Sugiyama takes dancing lessons and enters a competition. Here is Sugiyama with his dancing partner and another student.
Sugiyama isn’t a very good dancer, but he has a grave dignity and he looks nice in a tuxedo. He and Mai do not have an affair. His wife hires a detective to find out what he has been doing, and when she finds out, nothing in particular happens. Here Sugiyama shows his wife a few steps in the back yard.
This is a warm, sweet, low-key movie with quirky characters and minimal action. It might make you want to take dancing lessons. (But I didn’t.) Highly recommended.
The American remake starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez is unnecessary.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I loved the American version with Richard Gere and Jennnifer Lopez. The Japanese one is the superfluous.
xxx
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Nice to hear from you, brother John!