Hula Girls (film screening)

Hula Girls

Tuesday, December 16, 6:00PM (ET)

Doors open 5:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | JFT Event Hall

Directed by LEE Sang-il • 2006 • Comedy / Drama • 120 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer

In 1965, desperate to reverse their economic fortunes, the elders of Iwaki, a small Japanese coal-mining town, decide to create a Hawaiian center tourist attraction. They hire Madoka (MATSUYUKI Yasuko), a professional dancer from Tokyo, to recruit and train hula dancers. The group includes hulking Sayuri (YAMASAKI Shizuyo) and the hesitant Kimiko (AOI Yû). Things seem hopeless at first, but with encouragement from Kimiko’s brother, Yojiro (TOYOKAWA Etsushi), Madoka redoubles her efforts to make things work.

Based on real life events, Hula Girls premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival and went on to win five major awards at the 2007 Japan Academy Film Prize, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Most Popular Film. It was also chosen for Japan’s entry for the 79th Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.