Our Favorite Foreign Films: Shall We Dance?

“One night as he is taking the train home after work, a man (Kōji Yakusho) sees a beautiful woman (Tamiyo Kusakari) standing alone at a second floor window, lost in thought. The second night, she is there again. The sign on the window advertises ballroom dancing lessons. The third night, the man gets off the train at an unaccustomed stop and climbs the stairs to the dance studio. With these simple and direct shots, Suo establishes loneliness, mystery and allure… A well-crafted character study that, like a Hollywood movie with a skillful script, manipulates us but makes us like it.” – Roger Ebert. Kinema Junpo (Japan’s Oscars®) award winner for Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay, plus over 50 international awards. A worldwide sensation, SHALL WE DANCE? was released in the U.S. in a version cut by 19 minutes. This new 4K restoration is the complete 137-minute version.

Restored by Kadokawa Corporation.