Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!

Name: Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka
Genre: 35, 18, 10749
Released: 2026
Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, YOU, Yoh Yoshida

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People

Josef Kubota Wladyka• Director Rinko Kikuchi Alberto Guerra Alejandro Edda YOU Yoh Yoshida Damián Alcázar

Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. She must face what comes next as sparks fly.

Who would love this

♥Audiences who appreciate visually vibrant films with unique cultural settings, those interested in stories about overcoming grief through art and movement, and fans of Rinko Kikuchi's performances. Viewers who enjoy films that blend genres and take creative risks might also find it appealing.

Who might not

✗Viewers who prefer straightforward narratives, are sensitive to graphic depictions of violence, or find films that struggle with tonal consistency to be frustrating. Those who feel that a film's style detracts from its emotional impact might also be disappointed.

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What critics are saying about Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!

A cross-cultural tale of grief and dance, Josef Kubota Wladyka’s “Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!” stems from an intimate place, but ends up emotionally inert thanks to its style. Its key strength is a committed lead performance from Rinko Kikuchi, who fits effortlessly into a role inspired by the director’s mother. However, while trying to confront grief with a sense of mischief, the movie’s impish tonal approach takes the sting out of death a little too often, rendering its catharsis null. It’s hard not to respect a big swing, but Wladyka ultimately misses.

'Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!': A Dance Through Grief and Uneven...

Director Josef Kubota Wladyka’s effervescent depiction of a woman dancing through her grief is as heartwarming as it is fun. Visually bold and brimming with whimsy yet grounded in emotional truth, the film pulses with vivid colors, vibrant music, and zesty characters.Josef Kubota Wladyka is a New York–based film and television director. His acclaimed features Catch the Fair One and Manos Sucias earned multiple Film Independent Spirit Award nominations. He has directed episodes of Narcos, One Piece, and Tokyo Vice.

Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! | 2026 Sundance Film Festival