From Mashable · Kristy Puchko · · 1m 40s
'Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!' review: A feel-good movie about grief
This comedy-drama captures how grief brings tears and odd laughter, sometimes at the same time.
In brief
This comedy-drama captures how grief brings tears and odd laughter, sometimes at the same time. Grief can be messy and strange, but finding joy and connection again is part of healing. Originally reported by Mashable.
Grief is weird and funny
The film walks the line between comedy and drama, reflecting how grief can bring tears and odd laughter at the same time.
A dancer loses her partner
Haru and her Mexican husband Luis compete in Amateur Latin Senior in Tokyo. Then Luis dies of a heart attack on the dance floor.
Family pushes her to dance again
Haru's sister Yuki and chaotic cousin Hiromi lovingly bully her to get back in the groove and join a dance class.
“Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!”
She falls for the instructor
Haru sees dance instructor Fedir and imagines him taking her into his arms for a sexy spin around the floor.
She lies about her marriage
When Haru learns Fedir is in an open marriage, she pursues him but lies, saying she's also in an open marriage instead of admitting she's widowed.
Her husband returns in fantasies
Haru imagines Luis coming back, wearing a kawaii crow costume. Later she dreams of Luis and Fedir meeting, even kissing, as both look lovingly to her.
She's learning to move on
The fantasy scenes show Haru isn't trying to replace her husband. She's seeking to understand how to move forward with her life.
Grief makes us all bizarre
Haru's decisions go from bad to bonkers, but the film never judges her. In her outrageous journey, we may see ourselves.
“For who among us hasn't gotten bizarre in their mourning?”
The headline
Grief can be messy and strange, but finding joy and connection again is part of healing.
