2007 05 31 - Hula Girls

Synopsis

It is 1965 and in Japan, the country has started to shift from coal to oil. One by one the old mining towns begin their long slow decline. But for one small town way up north, its leaders and mining company officials have come up with an idea to develop Japan's first Hawaiian Village. And what's a Hawaiian Village without a troupe of Hula dancers? The only problem is, no one knows how to do the dance, or even knows what the Hula is! In this hilariously touching comedy, the skepticism and conservatism of the locals is gradually overcome as their daughters fall under the spell of one talented and determined dance instructor from the big city of Tokyo.

Based on a true story, HULA GIRLS is a heartwarming comedy about coal miners’ daughters who took a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape their monotonous lives, only to become unwitting heroes to their depressed mining town as well as the whole of Japan.

Film Awards

WINNER Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress & Best Screenplay - 30th Japanese Academy Awards 2007

Director - Lee Sang-il

CAST
Yasuko Matsuyuki (Ms. Hirayama )
Etsushi Toyokawa (Yojiro )
Yu Aoi ( Kimiko )
Shizuyo Yamazaki (Sayuri )
Ittoku Kishibe (Yoshimoto )
Sumiko Fuji (Chiyo)