Shall We Dansu? (1996) (Masayuki Suo)

With a deft sleight of hand, Masayuki Suo infuses comedy, romance and criticism of Japanese conservatism into the foreign world of ballroom dancing in the land of the rising sun. Treated with suspicion, this form of dancing carries with it a certain sense of shame, like online dating or personal ads. As if finding himself in a seedy part of town, our protagonist, Sugiyama (Kôji Yakusho), looks left and right while covering the best part of his face with the requisite nippon salaryman manila folder before heading up the stairs to continue his lessons. We're not to realise his motivations until he does as he reminisces his first urge to seek out a change and battle his midlife demons.

Just as every other day he takes the train home, where he gets on his bicycle and rides back to his newly bought house, complete with the large mortgage, the homely wife and cherished teenage daughter. One day, after a boring after-work dinner with his colleagues he first takes note of a beautiful young woman, staring out the window of a dance studio. Sugiyama takes the train each day after that, pondering why that woman's mirthless expression haunts him so. He decides reluctantly to join up after his wife tells him that he doesn't go out enough. Even with her unknowing encouragement, he keeps his past time a secret from his family as he joins a beginner group consisting of a loudmouth with good intentions, an overweight man finding some self-esteem and a kindly seasoned pro who teaches them the heart and soul of ballroom dancing.

He keeps an eye on the beautiful, sorrowful woman, Mai who harbours her own set of problems. At first staying out of Mai's way, Sugiyama grows more confident with his repertoire of moves and starts to become attached to the dance as Mai silently takes interest.

This is a story of characters, each with their own history and reasons for taking up the dance. Some noble, while some, not so much. But what's constant is their burgeoning passion for what they do, while staying in the periphery of society's glare. Sugiyama is a tacit individual who holds his fears, insecurities and inhibitions close to his heart. His family, although the most important things to him are mere ideals and goals that he has achieved in his life as a Japanese working man. Without any more goals to look towards, he finds more than he bargained for when he embarked on deciphering Mai's secret grief.

With a happy ending, comedy with its supporting characters and numerous subplots, its a light and underplayed (but not without some measure of stinging depth) look at the heavy upheavals of life's tedious banalities and doldrums. Showing how unbalanced we might be with monotony, trust and loyalty are always key virtues in succeeding in our newer endeavours.

Rating: 3½ out of 5