Ha-chan, Shake Your Butt!
Running time: 122 minutes. Not rated yet.
PARK CITY, Utah — Following the sudden death of her husband, Ha-chan feels like a shadow of her former lively self.
In a similar spirit, the Sundance Film Festival kicked off this year with an unexpected breath of fresh air in the form of a quirky and delightful film.
Interestingly, the best shows in the mountains tend to come on the third or fourth day. I sometimes think my Uber ride from the airport gets me there faster.
Writer-director Joseph Kubota Uwadika’s whimsical tale, “Haa-chan, Shake Your Butt!”, showcases a Japanese woman in her 40s, for whom dance is practically a second language. It delivers a rich blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and even features a unique twist reminiscent of “Dirty Dancing.”
Although regular indie film festival goers aren’t exactly the type to dance in their seats, it’s easy to see this audience wanting to shake off their casual attire.
As Haru, or Ha-chan, Rinko Kikuchi shines in a disco-inspired outfit, complete with curls reminiscent of Little Orphan Annie, and her bold eye makeup.
She shifts from being shy and reserved to a whirl of motion as soon as she drops an LP on the turntable and begins dancing with her husband Luis (Alejandro Edda). Their passion spills over from Tokyo to showcase their seductive rumba, tango, and paso doble styles.
At one point, during a dance sequence that seems more suited to a musical than reality, Luis collapses and tragically dies. Heartbroken, Ha-chan isolates herself in a house that resembles a dance hall, cutting off contact with her sister Yuki and her friend Hiromi, who currently lives in New York.
After months in solitude, her friends eventually coax her back to the dance studio, where a dynamic new teacher named Fedil (Alberto Guerra) has taken over. They even joke about Fedil’s appearances on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Ha-chan, with renewed enthusiasm, is on a journey to reclaim her health through dance.
However, this story goes beyond clichés typical of romantic comedies.
Here’s a twist: Luis, who appreciated Japanese spirituality, hangs around as a playful spirit, embodied by a giant stuffed chick, almost like a character from “Spirited Away.”
The film features vibrant ensemble pieces, including a lively street performance set to the classic “Be My Baby,” which is part flash mob and part choreographed fight. The rawness adds to its charm; it’s more relatable as Ha-chan doesn’t transform into a professional dancer overnight. The vibe reminded me of Toni Collette’s joyful moments jamming with ABBA in “Muriel’s Wedding,” though perhaps with a bit less awkwardness.
Yet, the film includes some unconventional themes like deception, jealousy, and even elements of delinquency, making it a rather humorous and offbeat narrative.
If there’s a flaw in “Ha-chan,” it might be that it could have benefitted from some trimming—maybe cutting down a rough 15 minutes or so. Nevertheless, Uwadika’s storytelling brings vibrancy to the film with an engaging aesthetic.
With a satisfying conclusion inspired by the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” the film certainly entertains.
