Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! Review: A Heartfelt Japanese Comedy-Drama that Balances Grief and Humor at Sundance Film Festival
In a compelling blend of humor and emotional depth, Josef Kubota Wladyka’s film Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! explores themes of life, love, and loss through a vibrant narrative set in Tokyo. This comedy-drama captures the delicate yet impactful journey of its protagonist, Haru, played by Rinko Kikuchi, as she navigates the aftermath of her husband’s sudden death during a ballroom competition.
Set against the backdrop of the dance world, the story follows Haru, whose once-happy life comes to a grinding halt after the tragic loss of her partner, Luis (Alejandro Edda). Isolated for nine months, her life takes a turn when friends Yuki (Yoh Yoshida) and Hiro (YOU) coax her into joining a dance class. There, she encounters her instructor, Fedir (Alberto Guerra), igniting a spark that leads to an unexpected romance.
As Haru embarks on her journey of rediscovery, she learns that Fedir is in an open marriage. Reluctant to embrace non-monogamy, she fabricates a story about her husband still being alive. Their passionate fling complicates further when jealousy arises, fueled by Fedir’s wife.
Throughout the film, Haru grapples with her grief, haunted by visions of Luis, who appears as a ghost in a crow costume ready to dance. This heavy-handed metaphor elicits both laughter and bewilderment, showcasing the film’s blend of surrealism and relatable human experiences.
Kikuchi delivers a standout performance, portraying a woman striving to reconnect with her zest for life, all while conveying a range of emotions through her dance. Meanwhile, YOU offers a humorous portrayal of a supportive friend, delivering the line, “It’s OK to get messy. That’s life,” underscoring the film’s embrace of imperfections.
Wladyka intricately weaves spectacular dance scenes into the narrative, seamlessly representing Haru’s emotional states. A standout moment involves a dance on a train, enhanced by practical effects that create a stunning visual experience. While the film nods to Dirty Dancing, it manages to recapture the essence of the classic through Haru’s perspective, albeit with a hint of cheesiness.
Drawing inspiration from his own ballroom-dancing mother, Wladyka portrays the complexities of life, love, grief, and closure with dance serving as a universal language, enriched by a talented ensemble of Japanese and Latin actors.
This poignant exploration of the human experience is produced by Kimberly Parker Zox, Mao Nagakura, and Wladyka, with executive producers including James Hausler, Kikuchi, and Kenji Ito.
Title: Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!
Festival: Sundance (U.S. Dramatic Competition)
Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka
Screenwriters: Josef Kubota Wladyka and Nicholas Huynh
Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, YOU, Yoh Yoshida, Damián Alcázar
Sales agent: CAA
Running time: 2 hr 2 min
