Plot: After a fallout with her parents, who don't support Yume's dream to become a professional dancer, she packs her bags and moves to Tokyo. Once there, she quickly realizes she's not the only one with a dream of becoming a professional dancer. After losing a dance battle, she understands she needs to start at the bottom and battle her way up. To support herself she starts work in a hostess bar. It's not the nicest environment to work in, but she can afford a small room and professional dance lessons from her w
Watches
February 03, 2024
A vibrant and respectful look into Tokyo's (underground) dance culture. It's rare to see an outsider fare well in Japan, but director Philippe McKie shows deep love and respect for the country. It would've been easy to turn this film into a freak show, instead, we get a rundown of interesting subcultures, strung together by dance motives. The performances are strong, the cinematography is lush, the soundtrack is an absolute dream, and the mix of drama and dance works very well, without resorting to too many clichés. A film that deserves broader recognition.
July 19, 2024
A genuine exploration of the Japanese (underground) nightlife. Many of the characters have roots in the scenes they portray, as does director McKie. It's rare to see a foreign director fare well in Japan, but he nailed the culture and the people by committing to enlisting proper talent rather than idols wanting to turn actors.
The cinematography is colorful, the performances are great, the dance routines are stunning (especially in combination with the editing) and Yume's journey is a wild and wonderful one. Bonus points for avoiding many pitfalls of the genre and cooking up and ending that isn't all that cheesy. A superb film.
