Shall We Dance?

It's staggering how much better the cinematography and shot selection is in this compared to the very good Sumo Do Sumo Don't. Takenaka, the comedic highlight of that film, is even better here in the role that was the progenitor to his Stresemann persona. But then there's the issue of the protagonist being an adulterous stalker. Could've been cool had things gone Vertigo, but a pretty unsympathetic way for him to find a neat hobby. Kusakari not being an actress is shocking; perfect performance.

A simple elegant film beautifully told. By the end of the film I felt as if I actually knew and was, if not friends with, at least part of their group. Totally believable with marvelous acting from one and all involved.

Watch this one instead of the terrible Richard Gere-remake. In this Japanese cultural setting, the whole dance-thing actually makes sense.

What a great way to have a midlife crisis.

Rediscovering love while in a mid-life crisis as a salaryman in socially repressed culture is the essence of 'Shall We Dance?'. The 'love' presented here is not external but the love one needs to give themselves to enjoy life to the fullest.

8??????/??????????????????/????"Lascia L'ultimo Ballo Per Me"??????

Warm hearted crowd-pleaser is an utter charmer, echoing STRICTLY BALLROOM in its presentation of the highly restrictive, even oppressive world of ballroom dancing as an ultimate key to liberation and self-fulfilment, and who can possibly resist that message! Overlength exacerbated by a tendency to follow too many melodramatic plot diversions is a minor quibble in the balance of the good feelings; the cast's sincere performances help to guide the film through its sometimes rocky screenplay.

Fantastic! Inspiring!

An utterly charming romantic comedy with a shy male lead. Wonderful.

Rather resembles one of those martial arts "training flicks" where the hero spends the whole movie practising and practicing, finally achieving his goal in the last scene. Achieves a very particularly Japanese warmth and purity of tone.

When it's about the dancing and the people who dance it's rather enjoyable film with a wry sense of humour and time passes pretty quickly. Thankfully this is most of the film. There are some melodramatic aspects scattered throughout that felt tedious and tacked on, and those dragged things down a bit.

Surprisingly entertaining for the subject matter.

Found how he must keep his passion for dancing a secret amusing. Almost like it was a taboo mistress.

Many of the same faces from the other funny film by Masayuki Suo, Shiko Funjatta. It's just one of those films that look so enjoyable to be an actor in; an engaging story, beautiful character development, it's got everything.

Good date flick

One of the characters in the film stated that she fell in love with dancing the moment she saw Yul Brenner in The King and I (a song from which the movie derives its title), and I would guess that Suo's rich study in the art of dance will be the inspiration for countless more.