Hula Girls

Keep an eye out for the Japanese indie film "Hula Girls". It was released late last year. It's played a few film festivals here and there in the states, but it hasn't been released on DVD with subtitles yet, at least not according to Netflix. The incredible Jake Shimabukuro scored the soundtrack. If you're not familiar with Jake, search him out on Youtube. He's phenominal.

Watch the trailer here. In Japanese, but you'll get the point.

Here's a plot summary:

In 1965 the planned closing of a coal mine in Iwaki (northeastern Japan) will put 2,000 people out of work with devastating effects on the community. The mining company plans to build the Hawaiian Center to promote tourism, but the idea meets with resistance by the community's union families who boycott the effort. However, a few of the young women in Joban see the call for dancers to possibly provide a more promising future. Norio Yoshimoto is put in charge of organizing the center, with Madoka Hirayama, a professional dancer fleeing creditors in Tokyo hired to train the dancers. Kimiko, her friend Sanae, and Sayuri are amongst the handful first showing up for lessons but soon others join them. When Kimiko's mother, Chiyo, discovers that she has skipped school classes to learn dancing the two argue and Kimiko leaves home. Her brother Yojiro, one of the newly out of work miners, comes to be supportive of her dancing as he becomes protective of Madoka. The girls start to tour neighboring communities and dance to promote the center, getting more proficient in the process. After secretly seeing Kimiko practice, and how good she has become, Chiyo helps gather heaters to save palm trees imported from Taiwan from dying from the cold. Her change of heart as head of the union's woman's organization shifts the sympathies of the community as the opening of the center nears. Madoka has molded coal miner's daughters into professional dancers, and Kimiko performs a standout solo dance at the opening.

[ Edited by: GatorRob 2007-09-19 07:19 ]

Thanks GatorRob! Anything that has to do with hula is right up my alley! I have been starting to look for good movies like this so any reference you may have to others would be appreciated. To understand why I am so interested feel free to check me out a bit: myspace.com/thehuladance http://www.thehuladance.com

Mahalo!

The DVD is supposed to be released here in November.

A friend of mine is doing a screening & Jake will be there. It's here in So Cal. Don't know much more than that but will post more likely tomorrow.

Finally saw the movie last night. Very well done. Predictable, but well done. The grand finale at the end shows a few tikis, lots of hula and Tahitian dancing, and an appreciative audience that reminds me of Hukilau at the Mai-Kai. I rate it 4 1/2 Rum Barrels!!

Any trailer which has an uli-uli in the cover shot is all good.

Rob, I'm so glad you brought up the thread.
The Japanese consulate sponsored the film being played at my theater for the big Sleepless Night event had on Miami Beach.

Really nicely done film. Warm & fuzzy.

I'm watching this movie right now. It finally saw a Canadian video release. I love Japanese movies, so it certainly appeals to me, and it's proving to be pretty good, too!

In relevance:

This is a cool video

Hula is cool but.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WhN6nlwAts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdtFqDUSK5o

The movie was pretty good too....

Hukilau memories.....Mai Kai girls hurricane dance off.....Unga Bunga at Scores.... Automatic Slims.....

Damn Bongo,
I was hoping you had some Scores footage.

(then again, maybe not)

Well, since you brought it up, here's a hula done by the Mai-Kai dancers that I shot last month. Enjoy. More to follow...

I do wish Youtube didn't compress the video so much. The original is much better quality. And 16:9.

Thanks GatorRob.....this is the memory that I love.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnjHeniDZVs&feature=related

TofuJoe and I watched Hula Girls last night. Great Film, highly recommend it, eventhough it has tear-jerker moments, ala Spielberg.

The one thing it did was educate me about the Joban Hawaiian Center. Pretty cool bit of History. I would have never known.

Watched the movie last night. Very good.

What?

Is that you Woofmutt? Kenny?
Are you having a laugh?

Here's the IMDb link if interested. Cool movie.
Tiki Slob

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768116/

Not exactly swaying hips in the sun in Waikiki, but Hula Girls is possibly more compelling as a result.
The closing of the plants reminded me of the decline of the defense industry in Southern Cal, with its resulting layoffs.