Overview
- Josef Kubota Wladyka’s feature premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and is seeking U.S. distribution, with CAAR handling sales.
- The story follows Haru, a Japanese ballroom dancer coping with her husband’s sudden death, who tentatively reenters dance and pursues a complicated attraction to an instructor.
- Critics widely commend Kikuchi’s committed lead turn, noting her presence grounds the film’s fanciful flourishes and keeps the emotional throughline in focus.
- Reception is divided on the movie’s impish, genre‑blending tone, with some praising its control and others arguing the whimsy blunts the sting of grief.
- Reviews highlight cross‑cultural textures and an eclectic soundtrack, reflecting Wladyka’s dedication to his ballroom‑dancing mother and the film’s Japanese‑Latin influences.