Commentary
"Shall We Dance?" in America
Hirosama Daguchi`s "Shall We Dance?"
Point
Interview with Cast
Music Video
TV Spot
Trailer

On his evening commute, bored accountant Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho)
always looks for the beautiful woman who gazes wistfully out the window of
the Kishikawa School of Dancing. One night he gets off the train, walks into
the studio, and signs up for a class. Soon Sugiyama is so engrossed in his
dancing he practices his steps on the train platform and under his desk, and
becomes good enough for competition, compelling his wife to hire a private
investigator to find out why he stays out late and returns home smelling of
perfume. Among the colorful characters Sugiyama meets is his coworker
Aoki (Naoto Takenaka), who transforms himself from geeky systems analyst
to hilariously flamboyant (and bad-wigged) lounge lizard. Aoki explains to
Sugiyama, "When I finish work, put on the clothes, the wig and become
Donny Burns, Latin world champion, and I start to move to the rhythm, I'm so
happy, so completely free." Here lies the chief charm of Shall We Dance, the
contrast between the ultracompetitive women of the studio--including the one
who caught Sugiyama's eye, Mai (Tamiyo Kusakari)--and the men who
dance simply because they enjoy it. This 1996 film is somewhat comparable
to the flamboyant Aussie favorite Strictly Ballroom, but Shall We Dance is
especially noteworthy for contrasting the boldness of social dance with the
buttoned-up societal mores of Japan, where people avoid public displays of
emotion. Even in Japan, the joy of dance is irresistible