Starring: Yu Aoi, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Etsushi Toyokawa, Shizuyo Yamazaki, Ittoku Kishibe, Sumiko Fuji
Director: Lee Sang-il

This is a story about change. Hula Girls, based on true events, takes place in the late ’60s in a small Japanese coal-mining town where the folks find that with the shifting reliance on oil from coal, the survival of their town is at stake when a major company decides to retrench and cut its headcount.

In an attempt to make over their economy (ain’t that familiar), the sleepy town decides to come up with an ‘Hawaii Centre’, a resort-like facility where the warm atmosphere of Hawaii will be recreated in their cold coal environment. It’s a drastic change from blue collar to the service industry and, with young girls being roped in to be dance performers, the traditionalists are up in arms against the entire project. Skimpy outfits and gyrating moves don’t make it easy, nor is an outsider being roped in to teach the girls a new skill popular.
Hula Girls, winner of many awards in the 2006 Japanese equivalent of the Oscars, and also the Japanese submission to the 2007 Oscar’s Best Foreign Language film, actually seems too familiar in narrative style, bringing to mind movies such as Waterboys, Swing Girls, Linda Linda Linda, and, more obviously My Mother is a Belly Dancer, for most of the first half anyway. But perhaps familiarity means the audience will take less time to identify with the film and its key characters.

Hula Girls is set against a backdrop of changing industries, attitudes, and skills. It’s a heartwarming story no less, about the strength of sisterhood, where unity sees the town’s women battling challenges much against the odds, especially when adversity comes from within. But it’s not all as serious as it sounds – the film has no want of comedy, especially with outcast characters such as the nerdy mom and the oversized tomboy, and the troupe’s initial attempts at performance during road trips advertising their new attraction.

As in other movies of the genre, it doesn’t take long to identify the leader of the pack: Kimiko (Yu Aoi) becomes the protégé of teacher Mrs Hirayama (Yasuko Matsuyuki) who is given the thankless task of whipping the girls into shape. Yu Aoi is no doubt the star of the movie, with her good looks and the time she’s given to show what it takes. And expect a number of sniffles as the filmmakers weave
in classical moments of drama primarily aimed at activating those tear ducts.

At heart, it’s a movie on the triumph of the human spirit against adversity, and of friendship. It is not without flaws: certain transitions need more depth, but when the formula comes to an end with a rousing, highly anticipated finale, you’ll no doubt be giving the film full applause for showmanship.

Hula Girls will definitely be going into my book as a contender for the best movie of the year. Highly recommended, despite its slow start.

Stefan S