Everyone's worried about you.
You don't come to practice.
Me too, I've...
I've ended up in the competition.
And with that Toyoko Takahashi too.
Once more.
Good night everyone.
If you'll excuse me.
Good evening.
Hello again. Glad you came.
What about trying Mr. Aoki...
for the Latin program?
You must be joking!
Give me Sugiyama any day.
But I was watching his rumba the other day.
It still needs a lot of work.
I'm not saying he can't do it...
but his Latin will take time to improve.
Both may be a bit too much.
I was going to ask you if we could stick to just one...
when Mr. Aoki happened to call.
There's someone he must beat in this competition.
And Mr. Aoki is, after all, a Latin man.
So ifToyoko will do...
I mean, seeing that you two haven't always gotten along so well.
Teaming with me to get revenge?
Must be a big deal.
Don't tell me that latest little bimbo...
up and left you again?
Trash your style, did she?
Yes, she did.
She insulted me.
Said my dancing made her sick!
Are you busy tonight?
Not particularly.
Would you mind taking Mr. Sugiyama?
I want to watch these two.
Don't hesitate!
Really put that right foot out.
Ready? Once more, from the top.
That first step is so important.
You're still hesitating.
The leader must commit his whole body...
to convey to his partner...
the tone of the entire dance.
A weak first step transmits nothing.
This is how you did it.
See how it says nothing?
Be confident, you must stride.
It's most important that your own right side...
remains firmly up against your partner.
Feel that?
Shall we?
That's not it.
Take a bigger stride.
Yes. That's more like it!
Now let's try it with Toyoko.
Watch them, Mai.
Wait for her to come. Then take her firmly.
Do you see?
The judges watch from the minute you start.
Don't hold back.
You're already hesitant.
Pull her in closer.
Take a big stride with the right.
Toyoko, will you stop that!
But he's stiff as a board.
I'm terribly sorry.
Not that! Here, from the heart.
Will you both try to be serious.
We're serious, aren't we?
Would you consider tutoring them for the competition?
Wait for her to come to you.
Look left.
Is he okay?
I'll call an ambulance.
To win, you need to stand out and to dance well.
With anywhere up to ten couples on the floor at once...
you're lucky to get ten seconds from the judges.
This is the quick-step format.
You enter from here.
With an initial sweep past the crowd.
Alternating scissors...
Then a side-chass�... change direction.
To a running finish and natural turn.
Isn't it exciting!
The waltz usually begins facing outward...
and starts with a half-turn...
leaving the middle wide open.
So take center stage and do something unusual.
Even if they hate it, the judges will be watching.
Are you alright?
Let's take a break.
Mr. Sugiyama's exhausted.
No, I'm fine.
- I'm beat too. I'll get drinks. - I'll go.
It's okay. Mineral water for you, Chinese tea for him.
Thanks.
Sorry, I'm getting carried away.
No need to apologize.
At my age, it's embarrassing to say so...
but every day I feel so alive.
Even being tired feels great.
It's been a long time since I felt this enthusiastic.
It's a good feeling.
Lately, I've begun...
to think about Blackpool again.
Up until just recently...
I haven't wanted to.
Blackpool...
is a small, seaside resort town.
Normally it's very quiet.
But that completely changes...
for the championship week.
I first went to Blackpool when I was five.
The central ballroom...
was so big and so splendid.
I joined all those strangers...
imitating their steps.
I'll never forget the finals at the Winter Garden.
Particularly one young couple.
They lost in the semi-finals.
They had the most enchanting quick-step routine.
Butjust at the end...
they collided with another couple.
He fell heavily and ended up in the hospital.
But both my parents...
were tremendously impressed.
I asked why.
Father explained that to the end he tried to protect his partner.
Since that first day in Blackpool...
dance has become my entire world.
What started me dancing...
was you gazing out of the window like that.
You can see that window from the trains.
Every day on the train home I looked for you.
When I saw you, somehow I felt relieved...
or disappointed if you weren't there.
Your melancholy look...
It totally charmed me.
I married at age 28. Had a child by 30.
At 40, I bought the home I longed for.
I've worked so hard for these things.
I thought it was a happy life...
but after I bought the house...
something changed.
It's no reflection on my wife...
or on my love for my daughter.
But something was different.
I need to work to pay the mortgage.
I accepted that...
but something was still missing.
Then you appeared.
Looking up and seeing you there...
made me want...
just one time... to dance with you.
Even after...
I was very rude to you...
you stuck with dancing.
I really felt like giving up.
But if I had...
I would have been everything you accused me of.
Of course, it's true...
that affection for you...
was what brought me to the class.
But to be confronted with it...
was a shock.
I thought, "She didn't have to be like that."
I wanted to prove to you...
that it wasn't because of you.
I'd said I was here to dance.
But...
But what?
No sooner did I decide to continue...
than I really began to like it.
I was...
watching you too.
From the window here...
I saw you practicing on the platform.
It warmed my heart.
I'll never forget it.
It's just not fair. Selfish man.
"Eastern japan Amateur Dance Competition"
Here we go.
Mr. Sugiyama, you look so serious.
Relax a little.
Ready? Cheese!
How come you're here?
Inspired by our enthusiasm.
This is the missus.
Don't be so rude!
This is my niece.
The wife roped her in too.
Tanaka wanted a partner.
They dance great together.
Mr. Sugiyama.
That suits you.
My late husband's best tails.
You deserve a medal for putting up with her.
Enough from you! Go and save seats for us.
The first round will be the rumba.
Number 109...
Number 110...
114...
116.
Mr. Aoki looks like he's going for it.
Fussing with your hair! Our routine was crap.
They deliberately messed with it.
Take the damn thing off and dance!
You wouldn't understand!
Bald creeps are not my specialty.
Alright then. Let's get rid of it!
Mr. Aoki's fantastic.
He cast off more than just the wig.
Mom.
They're announcing finalists.
I'm coming.
Numbers 101, 103...
106, 109...
110...
114...
115...
121...
I thought Mr. Macho was pretty good.
Bad attitude.
"Ungentlemanly behavior"
It's a British sport after all.
He'll be too nervous even to hear the music.
You must guide him.
Leave it to me.
Mr. Sugiyama. We're on.
Mr. Sugiyama...
just flow with the music...
and enjoy the dance.
First round. The waltz.
Here they are.
But they look nervous.
No, over there.
Did you arrange this?
I had no choice.
It's easiest if she sees for herself.
She's headed for a breakdown.
You're a detective, not a marriage counsellor.
You're not even billing her.
There's Dad.
The start is everything.
Take a deep breath.
Now!
They did it!
Points lost there. But who's fault is it?
That's why I don't like amateurs.
Can't keep from bumping into others...
or being bumped themselves.
How you react is most important.
Judges naturally notice bumping.
But a quick recovery and a calm return to dancing...
on the contrary...
can be noted and scored pretty highly.
You're hooked aren't you?
C'mon, Dad!
So close and he doesn't notice us.
Is your daughter here?
I hardly think so.
I could be mistaken...
but I'm sure I heard a girl call out...
"C'mon, Dad!" Just as we began.
And now for the quick-step.
Well done!
He's great.
He's doing well.
Told you.
Dad!!
Watch out!
You knew?
Yes.
For a long time.
But I was afraid to talk about it.
I kept thinking you'd tell me.
But you didn't say a word.
At first, I thought it was an affair.
It was a relief to find out it wasn't.
But I still couldn't understand why.
It brought you to life.
I felt completely on my own.
Today when I saw you...
it was even harder to understand.
It hurts so much.
Even if it was dancing...
it was still an affair.
It wasn't just an affair. I was seriously involved.
Until today.
Until today?
Yes. I've finished with dance.
Why? Because of me?
It'll be all my fault.
No, not at all.
It's just not for me... that's all.
Hey, look at this.
It'll blow you away.
What is it?
You won't believe your eyes!
Is that Aoki?
Read this part.
"After suddenly doffing his trademark wig, Donny Aoki...
swept the floor before unexpectedly defaulting."
"Donny" Aoki! That bald jerk.
Ballroom dancing... of all things!
You can just imagine that dirty pervert.
There's nothing wrong with it!
If you've never danced...
you should watch what you say.
- Hi there! - Hello.
I hope you didn't quit dancing because of me.
I really don't care, let's dance again.
You were dancing really well.
You did so well in just a year, don't throw it away.
It's not that. I've just had enough of dancing.
I began on a whim.
You saw the results.
I'm sorry for disturbing you more dedicated dancers.
Please forgive me.
Forget all that. It doesn't matter.
Maybe you have a lot on your mind.
But if you want to dance, call me.
I won't stand for you dancing with anyone else!
Mai is going to England.
We're having a farewell party next Friday.
Please join us. Mai would be pleased.
This is a letter from her.
Thank you so much.
Please do not laugh at me...
for saying this...
but I want to thank you...
from the bottom of my heart.
In the competition you danced superbly.
You did your utmost...
to protect Toyoko.
She is fully aware of that.
We all know you did your very best.
And that's why Toyoko put her trust in you.
She really does want to dance with you again.
Remember I once told you about Blackpool?
I didn't tell you about my failure there.
That's because I never really faced up to it myself.
But now I can tell you about it.
The audience's support for us was overwhelming.
We made it to the semi-finals.
I rode on the waves of applause and cheering.
I was thrilled and moved, and I danced my best ever.
And then...
just like you...
we collided during the quick-step.
I blamed my partner.
Why didn't he protect me?
His reaction stunned me.
He wanted us to break up.
Soon after I returned toJapan.
I wanted to show him up...
so I looked for a top-class dancer.
But my father wouldn't let me take a new partner.
He had me teach at his school.
I was so unhappy...
reluctantly teaching.
Then you arrived at the school.
During the months we practiced for the competition...
something began to change within me.
I came to realize that I had always danced alone...
never fully trusting my partner.
My failure at Blackpool...
was not his fault.
It was a natural result of me dancing only for myself.
It was you who taught me...
the splendor...
of dance when you trust and enjoy.
I decided to start again from the beginning.
So thank you very much.
I'm looking forward to seeing you at the party.
I owe you an apology.
I hired a private detective.
I was afraid to ask you.
You've always been so serious.
And because I love you.
Please go and dance with her tomorrow.
Continue your dancing.
I'd rather you were full of life...
than see you look so down.
Teach me to dance too.
Dance with me the way you would with her.
Will you be quiet!
I quit dancing!
Why not dance with Mom?
Do it!
Dance with each other.
You were wonderful.
Please dance for me.
When I move my left, go back on your right.
If it's my right, then it's your left.
We turn 90 degrees to the right...
and bring our feet together.
Back on my left, you come right.
My right, your left.
As you turn 90 degrees, bring both legs together.
Alright, once more.
I'm sorry that I made you feel so lonely.
"Going shopping later with Chikage.
See you after the party. Love Masako."
Feel free to dance during the interval.
Is Sugiyama here yet?
Not yet.
That's strange. He's already left work.
"Fast Food Noodles"
Look at Hattori showing off.
Go dance when the rumba starts.
Sitting waiting isn't going to bring him here.
"Shall we dance Mr. Sugiyama?"
And now for the final number this evening.
This time let's have Ms. Mai choose her own partner.
Shohei Sugiyama... Koji YAKUSHO
Mai Kishikawa... Tamiya KUSAKARI
Tomio Aoki... Naoto TAKENAKA
Toyoko Takahashi... Eriko WATANABE
Tokichi Hattori... Yu TOKUI
Masahiro Tanaka... Hiromasa TAGUCHI
Tamako Tamura... Raiko KUSAMURA
Masako Sugiyama... Hideko HARA
Ryo Kishikawa... Shuichiro MORIYAMA
Hiromasa Kimoto... Masahiro MOTOKI
Natsuko... Misa SHI MIZU
Toru Miwa... Akira EMOTO
Executive Producers: Yasuyoshi TOKUMA
Hiroyukik KATO, Seiji URUSHI DO
Shigeru ONO, Kazuhiro IGARASHI
and Tetsuya I KEDA
Producer: Shoji MASUI & Yuji OGATA Altamira Pictures inc.
Director of Photography: Naoki KAYANO (J.S.C.)
Lighting Director: Tatsuya OSADA
Sound Recordist: Kiyoshi YONEYAMA
Production Designer: Kyoko HEYA
Editor: Junichi KI KUCHI
Music by Yoshikazu SUO
Assistant Director: Gen YAMAKAWA
Casting Director: Tetsu MAEDA
Production Manager: Yoshino SASAKI
Production Coordinator Toshihisa WATAI
Associate Producer: Yoichi ARISHIGE
Theme song performed by: Taeko ONUKI
Miramax Post-Production Executive: Diana Tauder
Written & Directed by Masayuki SUO