Hula Girls

Hula Girls / 2006 / 120minutes



-Main cast
Yasuko Matsuyuki as Madoka Hirayama
Etsushi Toyokawa as Youjiro Tanikawa
Yu Aoi as Kimiko Tanikawa
Shizuyo Yamazaki as Sayuri Kumano
Ittoku Kishibe as Norio Yoshimoto
Sumiko Fuji as Chiyo Tanikawa

-Plot for Hula Girls
In 1965, coal mining town of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture was in trouble. The mining company has to fire 2000 people because of closing of a coal mine. Instead of that, the mining company plans to build the Hawaiian Center to provide employment. And they need dancer for Hula. But this idea is objected by the community.
However, a few girls are showing up for first lesson. They learn dancing called Hula. And soon others join dance lessons. Their teacher Madoka who is a professional dancer in Tokyo is very strict teacher. She trains them as professional dancers.
One day, Kimiko's mother, Chiyo noticed that kimiko skip classes to attend dance lesson. Chiyo is very angry with her and Kimiko runs away from home...

-My comments
There are several scenes that I can't stop my tears. The following is the scenes I especially like.
1. Madoka hugs Sanae so tightly when Sanae says good bye.
Madoka coaches hula girls strictly. But, this scene show audience Madoka's love for hula girls.
2. Sayuri says "Please let me dance." even though her father died in the accident.
Sayuri's grief is unimaginable for me. But Sayuri want to dance hula for her father. I guess it is difficult for Sayuri to endure her sorrow…
3. Hula girls convey message to Madoka by hula.
This scene is my favorite one. Hula girls dance hula for Madoka. Every hula move has a meaning behind it. Their hula's meaning is "Brush the tears from your eye…I love you…to you sweetheart." This message is incredibly nice, isn't it?!

When I watch these scenes, I always cry! And I like Shizuyo Yamazaki's performance so much. She is a comedian! She is not actress! But, her performance is extremely good. I forget she is a comedian.

In this blog, I always introduce English movie. But today is a special. The reason why I introduce Japanese movie is this one is my mom's favorite one, and I also think it's so nice. I really want you to watch it! I always watch it with Japanese subtitle, which is good for me. I think you should do so. If you want to watch it, ask me please. I can lend you DVD!

Thank you so much for your comments, Baseball freak and nagisa!