Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor — and she must face what comes next as sparks fly. Grief, romance, Fosse-like dance numbers and little magical realism collide in a true crowd-pleaser from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“The kind of movie you wish you could jump through the screen and live in…. And then there are the dance numbers…. Each of the sequences is overflowing with energy and joy. They’re big swings that not every movie would be able to successfully sell, but Kubota Wladyka gets you to buy in from the beginning, making them a home run.” —Taylor Gates, Collider “You’ll laugh, you’ll smile ear to ear, you might even tear up, and then Wladyka will jolt you by twisting the narrative once again. Yes, Haru’s journey is more soulful and heartbreaking than you may want it to be. And that somehow makes the magical moments even more endearing.” —Gregory Ellwood, The Playlist “The filmmaker made Ha-chan with his own Japanese mother in mind, and as such he allows [star Rinko] Kikuchi to lead and his film to follow…. A film that gives the floor to a Japanese woman’s sexuality like this –– so uncompromisingly and empathically –– feels nothing short of revelatory. HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY! loves its protagonist unconditionally, and it encourages the spectator to feel the same…. Shimmering and sparkling, HA-CHAN carries the rarest maturity about sex, love, grief, and allowing yourself to take life one step at a time.” —Blake Simons, The Film Stage
