Cinema Society Screens Sundance-Winning Film 'Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!'
The Cinema Society and Sony Pictures Classics hosted a screening of Josef Kubota Wladyka's film 'Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!' at the Crosby Street Hotel. The movie, starring Rinko Kikuchi as a grieving widow who takes up ballroom dancing, won the directing prize at Sundance earlier this year. It opens in theaters on September 25.
The screening event drew a substantial crowd of television and Broadway performers, including cast members from series like *Stranger Things*, *The Handmaid's Tale*, and *Orange is the New Black*, alongside fashion industry figures and photographers. Director Josef Kubota Wladyka and actor Alberto Guerra mingled with attendees, while Sony Pictures Classics co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard represented the distribution team behind the film's upcoming theatrical rollout.
The film's Sundance directing prize has generated notable anticipation ahead of its September 25 release. The story centers on Haru, a recent widow played by Rinko Kikuchi, who channels her grief into ballroom dance lessons and develops feelings for her instructor. The narrative reportedly shifts between comedic and tragic tones, incorporating slapstick and surrealist touches that have drawn comparisons to crowd-pleasing independent cinema.
This film may appeal to audiences seeking emotionally layered entertainment that balances humor with heavier themes like grief and renewal. Its Sundance pedigree could attract discerning filmgoers, while the dance-centered premise and accessible tone may broaden its reach to older viewers and those looking for uplifting stories. The September release timing could position it for awards-season discussion, potentially influencing how similar character-driven films are distributed and promoted.