Shall We Dance - Prologue

Jean W. Williams jqw3827
Mon Nov 3 11:18:35 EST 1997


In response to Kerry Smith's questions, this issue was discussed on
another ml to which I belong some time back. I have only seen the film in
its US version, but from what I gather, thought the visuals from the
opening scene are the same, it is the voiceover narration which differs.
Apparently in the Japanese version, something of the history of Western
ballroom dancing (which might be "exotic" there!) is given, while in the
US version we get a sort of socio-cultural context.

I believe that it was already mentioned on this ml, but there is an
interesting article by the director available on-line from Japan Echo. In
this article he discusses specifically how the film was edited, promoted,
etc. in the US.

If you don't know the url for Japan Echo, I will look it up.

Maybe it was already thoroughly discussed, but I wouldn't mind talking
about "Shall We Dance?" more.  In particular, I believe that the complete
lack of the wife's pov in "Shall We Dance?" may parallel one of the
criticisms Frako levelled at "Tokyo Biyori".

The only growth or development in her character is
"understanding" (her husband's desires, etc.)  An interesting thing
came up today in conversation with a friend in Tokyo.  Unless I totally
blanked it out, I do not remember any scene in the US version of "Shall we
Dance?" in which the wife mentions a part-time job.  I saw it earlier in
the summer  -- but I don't remember feeling I knew anything at all about
what she did with herself all day long.

Jean Williams
Dept. of Performance Studies
Tisch School of the Arts
New York University
jqw3827 at is2.nyu.edu






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