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Shall We Dance?

Original title: Shall we dansu?
  • 19961996
  • PGPG
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Shall we dansu? (1996)
Trailer
Play trailer1:22
2 Videos
34 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Music

A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons.A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons.A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Masayuki Suô
  • Writer
    • Masayuki Suô
  • Stars
    • Kôji Yakusho
    • Tamiyo Kusakari
    • Naoto Takenaka
Top credits
  • Director
    • Masayuki Suô
  • Writer
    • Masayuki Suô
  • Stars
    • Kôji Yakusho
    • Tamiyo Kusakari
    • Naoto Takenaka
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 107User reviews
    • 80Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 55 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos2

    Shall We Dance? (1997)
    Trailer 1:22
    Shall We Dance? (1997)
    Shall We Dance? (1997)
    Trailer 1:22
    Shall We Dance? (1997)

    Photos34

    1 sheet
    Poster for video release, 1 sheet video release movie poster
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)
    Shall we dansu? (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kôji Yakusho
    Kôji Yakusho
    • Shohei Sugiyamaas Shohei Sugiyama
    Tamiyo Kusakari
    • Mai Kishikawaas Mai Kishikawa
    Naoto Takenaka
    Naoto Takenaka
    • Tomio Aokias Tomio Aoki
    Eri Watanabe
    • Toyoko Takahashias Toyoko Takahashi
    Yu Tokui
    • Tokichi Hattorias Tokichi Hattori
    Hiromasa Taguchi
    • Masahiro Tanakaas Masahiro Tanaka
    Reiko Kusamura
    • Tamako Tamuraas Tamako Tamura
    • (as Raiko Kusamura)
    Hideko Hara
    • Masako Sugiyamaas Masako Sugiyama
    Hiroshi Miyasaka
    • Machoas Macho
    Kunihiko Ida
    • Teiji Kanekoas Teiji Kaneko
    Amie Toujou
    • Hisako Hondaas Hisako Honda
    Ayano Nakamura
    • Chikage Sugiyamaas Chikage Sugiyama
    Katsunari Mineno
    • Keiri-kachôas Keiri-kachô
    Tomiko Ishii
    • Haruko Haraguchias Haruko Haraguchi
    Maki Kawamura
    • Eiko Miyoshias Eiko Miyoshi
    Takako Matsuzaka
    • Fusako Fukubeas Fusako Fukube
    Kôichi Ueda
    • Torakichi Kumadaas Torakichi Kumada
    Mari Nishino
    • Wakako Takahashias Wakako Takahashi
    • Director
      • Masayuki Suô
    • Writer
      • Masayuki Suô
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Shohei Sugiyama has attained all that he has wanted in life. But he is still depressed and unhappy. One day, he gathers up the courage to sign up for dancing lessons. He hopes they will rid his depression and help him get his life back together. —Robert Krzanowski <stonedpsycho@hotmail.com>
    • self discovery
    • husband wife relationship
    • tokyo japan
    • japan
    • 1990s
    • 20 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He's an overworked accountant. She's an accomplished dancer. Passion is about to find two unlikely partners.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Music
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for mild language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the first scene, a man's shoe in close-up plunges into a black pool in the street. This symbolizes the world renowned Ballroom Dancing Competition in Blackpool, England, referenced later in the film.
    • Quotes

      Shohei Sugiyama: At my age, it's embarrassing to say so, but every day I feel so alive.

    • Alternate versions
      Original Japanese version (pre-Miramax) runs 136 minutes and is available on Hong Kong laseridisc with English and Chinese subtitles.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Contact/This World, Then the Fireworks/A Simple Wish/4 Little Girls/The Big Sleep/Shall We Dance? (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Shall We Dance
      Music by Richard Rodgers

      Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

      Performed by Taeko Ohnuki

    User reviews107

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Heartwarming film
    This film is about a man who has been too caught up with the accepted convention of success, trying to be ever upwardly mobile, working hard so that he could be proud of owning his own home. He assumes this is all there is to life until he accidentally takes up dancing, all because he wanted to get a closer look of a beautiful girl that he sees by the dance studio everyday while riding the subway on his way home.

    His was infatuated with her at first, going to the dance class just to idolize her, but he eventually lets himself go and gets himself into the dancing. It eventually becomes apparent to him that there is more to life than working yourself to death. There is a set of oddball characters also learning in the studio, giving the film a lot of laughs and some sense of bonding between the dejected.

    There is also revelations of various characters, including the girl he initially admired, giving some depth to them by showing their blemished past and their struggle to overcome it.

    The dancing was also engaging, with the big competition at the end, but it is not the usual story where our underdog come out at the top by winning it. Instead, there are downfalls, revelations and redemption.

    All these makes it a moving and fun film to watch.
    helpful•38
    3
    • lingmeister
    • Dec 26, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 11, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Aşka Davet
    • Filming locations
      • Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Daiei Studios
      • Nippon Television Network (NTV)
      • Hakuhodo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,499,091
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,499,091
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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