Suo speaks very little english, so an interpreter is. I guess because this is one of those rare cases where a movie becomes a masterpiece in spite of a intentionally. Feb 14, 2005 shall we dance shares the same title as the fred astaireginger rogers movie from 1937, but from its opening lines, this japanese movie makes clear that it has at least as much to do with social. Eight questions for masayuki suo, the director of shall we. An interview with masayuki suo, the writerdirector of the japanese hit movie shall we dance. Shall we dance original japan videos updated last year. Shall we dance is a wellgroomed, nattily attired, achingly sentimental redo of the 1996 japanese ballroom dancing romance that was a surprise hit both on home turf and in the u. A romantic comedy where a bored, overworked estate lawyer, upon first sight of a beautiful instructor, signs up for ballroom dancing lessons. Its pace is slow, a characteristic of japanese films. Negative shall we dance starring jennifer lopez and richard gere. Sep 06, 2016 1996 came the all time classic from japan shall we dance. That was inspired by the classic dance scene from the 50s movie anna and the king but also gave inspiration to the richard ghere movie.
Couples looking for an enjoyable datenight movie could do worse than shall we dance. Shall we talk about this extremely gay scene from shall. A bored japanese accountant sees a beautiful woman in the window of a ballroom dance studio. Yet it is also dignified in a way hard to describe. Shall we dance 2004 official trailer hd for longer than he can remember, john clark has led a dull existence. Shall we dance provides examples of the following tropes alliterative name repetitive name. Last years smash hit in japan tells the warm, frequenty funny story of an uptight japanese worker whose midlife crisis takes him on a journey of personal discovery in a tokyo dance class. One night on his evening commute, he notices a beautiful woman staring through the window of a dance. A salaried man played by koji yakusho finds renewed meaning to his life once he starts taking dance lessons from an elegant, remote dance.
It makes a comparative analysis, not only of an original japanese film shall we dansu. Last years smash hit in japan tells the warm, frequenty funny story of an uptight japanese worker whose midlife crisis takes him on a journey of personal. The remake, from miramax films and starring richard gere and jennifer lopez, lands on dvd this week and that is of course the reason we are now seeing this original film released at the same time by the same studio. Lying to your wife, sneaking out of the house every night, and flirting with disaster by dancing seductively with a beautiful woman is not respecting the boundaries of a marriage. Mar 20, 2001 put simply, japanese culture seems far too alien and too damn odd to resonate much with western mainstream audiences, which is what makes the universal appeal of shall we dance. Shohei sugiyama koji yakusho is a typically straitlaced japanese businessmen who, passing by in his commuter train one day, glimpses a beautiful young woman, mai reallife ballerina tamiyo kusakari through the window of a dance school. The japanese characters are true to the movies message. If youve seen it, you know precisely what happens in the hollywood version, but the movie is a star vehicle.
Yet 42yearold shohei sugiyama koji yakusyo is so unsatisfied by his wife, child. English, french, and spanish subtitles are accessible. Movie goers got downright misty watching the film, shall we dance. A budding romance between a ballet master and a tap dancer becomes complicated when rumors surface that theyre already married. I felt the japanese one had more meaning, and i gained a deeper understanding of. Shall we dance 312 movie clip a ballroom dance demonstration 2004 hd duration. The film has such a weakness for the easy incongruity short men dancing with tall womenisnt that hilarious. This is the warm, frequently funny story of an uptight japanese. In particular, we examine the groups impact on individual behavior and gender. Shall we shall we dance prime video reading lists my children movie tv concert movie posters image find japanese movie shall we dance. Dont ignore this, this excellent, funny, thoughtful movie, has only one drawback. He secretly starts taking dancing lessons to be near her, and then over time discovers how much he loves ballroom dancing. I have watched half of the movie in the original japanese, without english subtitles and because i know the american version i can easily know scene by scene.
It inspired the 2004 american remake of the same name. In japan, ballroom dancing is regarded with much suspicion, an opening title explains. Hini so shall we dance, so shall we dance 20160830. Shall we dance doesnt break any new ground but those who just want a good time will find it with this film. Shall we sharu wi dansu this is the warm, frequently funny story of an uptight japanese worker whose midlife crisis. Even when its corny, its gratifying to see this sweet dynamic in a married couple with greying hair and crows feet. Hollywood plunders, part 1 by slarek on its release it was the most financially successful foreign language film ever released in the us and was one of the most genuinely enjoyable audience pictures to emerge from japan in years. Jan 15, 2012 this song is extracted form shall we dansus film. A comparative analysis of a japanese film and its american. Opening titles, probably added by the distributor, tell us, ballroom dancing.
On the surface, sugiyama shohei koji yakusho seems to have it all. He hopes they will rid his depression and help him get his life back together. However, i am glad i saw the japanese version before the american version. Before richard gere and jennifer lopez ever put on their dancing shoes, there was the original shall we dance. All of the films characters are taken seriously, as they are, and none are diminished because of their imperfections. The story has a prologue about what dancing in japan symbolizes sociologically, so it isnt exactly as simple to learn to dance in japan as it is here in the u. One of my favorite things about the 2004 movie shall we dance, a remake of the japanese film of the same name from 1996, is how it plays with our ingrained assumptions about what the movie will be. The original japanese film had a question mark in its title, and the publicity poster for this film also includes it. In japan the opening scenes would play with an even greater charge. Unlike the australian comedy, strictly ballroom, which used ballroom dancing competitions as arenas for. His wife, meanwhile, has hired a private detective to find out why he has started coming home late smelling of perfume. But this japanese film was remade last year in hollywood with little change. Even with a successful career, charming wife and loving family, he still feels something is missing. Hoping to get closer to her, even though hes married and has a child, he signs up for dance lessons in secret, and slowly begins to fall in love with the art form itself.
With fred astaire, ginger rogers, edward everett horton, eric blore. Jun 28, 2009 japanese gentle comedy shall we dance. Shall we dance original japan by alexhanphong dailymotion. Watch shall we dance original japan by alexhanphong on dailymotion. Yul brynner and deborah kerr perform shall we dance from the king and. Shall we dance is a japanese movie, and it has subtitles. He loves his family, which includes his wife beverly, but their combined busy schedules and getting caught in a rut after two decades of marriage has left him feeling unfulfilled. However, the actual film titles on the us film appear as simply shall we dance, leading to some online sources, including imdb, referring to it without showing the question mark. One of the most interesting aspects of the film for a western viewer is that were offered an opportunity to peer through an open window into japanese society, especially as it addresses issues of intimacy. Shall we dance is a 1996 japanese romantic comedydrama film directed by masayuki suo. Linda experiences this inuniverse after one too many costars assumes shes not just acting her love scenes and tries to kiss her offstage.
Peters astaire is a ballet star under the name of petrov, but he longs to explore the possibilities of jazz and tap dancingmuch to the disapproval of his impresario, jeffrey baird edward. John clark is a lawyer with a charming wife, beverly, and a loving family. In shall we dance, a lighthearted japanese film thats winning over audiences around the world, director masayuki suo depicts a middleaged sarariman salary man who revitalizes his dull. Hes a fool for dancin, despite the briefcase the new. Directed by masayuki suo writing credits masayuki suo produced by yasuyoshi tokuma, tetsuya ikeda, kazuhiro igarashi, hiroyuki kato, shoji masui, yuji ogata, shigeru ohno, yasuharu urushido, yoichi arishige music by yoshikazu suo stock music by.
Perhaps the film that connected to more personally than any other that i have seen read more. The japanese soundtrack is rendered in dolby digital surround. Critics consensus elegantly told by director masayuki suo and warmly performed, shall we dance. Initially released in its home country in 1996, it picked up an impressive japanese academy awards. In america, dance is also not a typical adult hobby. Japanese film that inspired the american movie by the same name. Oct 14, 2004 despite coming out less than eight years ago, the original japanese movie is considered by many to be a classic, because it gave a great view of japanese society as one man tries to overcome its. The littleknown, yet astonishing japanese import touched audiences around they world as they witnessed the suppressed passions of a lifeless accountant and apathetic dance teacher wildly unleash as a result of gliding their way together through the art and sport of ballroom dancing. Here is a small but beautiful meditation on the sweet pain. I thought both versions japanese and american of shall we dance. Quiet, elegant and brimming with unaffected charm, the japanese film shall we dance. I happened to get this japanese version of shall we dance on the same day as the recent american version.
With its uplifting message and irreverent sense of humor, masayuki suos shall we dance. She announces shes fed up, quits the show, and then starts making plans to marry jim immediately and retire. A comparative analysis of a japanese film and its american remake. Oct 14, 2004 and then ask her if it was as good for her as it was for you. On the other hand, renting the japanese original might be an even better idea. It is a remake of the 1996 japanese film of the same name. Unlike the australian comedy, strictly ballroom, which used ballroom dancing competitions as arenas for romance and satire, shall we dance. Eight questions for masayuki suo, the director of shall we dance.
Not to be confused with the 1996 japanese film by the same title, or its 2004 american remake. Put simply, japanese culture seems far too alien and too damn odd to resonate much with western mainstream audiences, which is what makes the universal appeal of shall we dance. Nevertheless, if you are absorbed in the film like me, you will. Shohei sugiyama is an accountant who spots a beautiful japonski woman in a dance studio window. Directed by peter chelsom, this film is the englishlanguage remake of masayuki suos 1995 romantic comedy of the same name. Richard gere plays john clark, a lawyer who feels the need to spice up his stagnating marriage to susan sarandon, no less by taking ballroom dance lessons from a beautiful and mysterious younger woman jennifer lopez. Focus on koji yakusho before richard gere and jennifer lopez ever put on their dancing shoes, there was the original shall we dance.