Hula Girls (2-DVD Widescreen) (Uncut Special Edition) (US Version) DVD Region 1

From Shall We Dance? to Waterboys to Swing Girls, there's a special place in Japanese cinema for films about underdogs finding their groove. This time our zeroes-to-heroes discover hula dancing in 1960s Japan. Entertaining, dynamic, and bursting with energy, Hula Girls is also a good deal more than a simple youth pop flick. The film is based on the true story about one mining town's inventive decision to save itself through hula. The dated setting and conservative social background bring in extra layers of concerns and complications to the story, and Japanese-Korean director Lee Sang Il (Scrap Heaven) assuredly weaves the different elements into a coherent, compelling film. Hula Girls won over both critics and moviegoers alike, building a wide audience through strong word of mouth.

The sleepy mining town of Iwaki is slowly heading for the hills, so the mining company decides to start a Hawaiian Center amongst the coal mines to attract tourists. As a further gimmick, local girls will give hula performances. Dance teacher Madoka (Matsuyuki Yasuko, Another Heaven) is especially hired from Tokyo, but most of the local girls balk when they realize hula involves hip shaking and mid-riff baring. The motley bunch that remains consists of stubborn Kimiko (Aoi Yu, Hana and Alice), her star-struck friend Sanae (Tokunaga Eri), bespectacled mother Shoko (Ikezu Shoko), and big-boned Sayuri (Yamazaki Shizuyo). None of the girls can dance, Madoka isn't all that interested in teaching, and many of the townspeople are less than happy about this newfangled hula business. The whole idea seems destined for failure, but when Madoka sees the girls' fighting spirit, she becomes determined to teach them how to hula.

Hula Girls was the big winner of 2006. The film won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress (Aoi Yu) at the 30th Japan Academy Awards. At the Blue Ribbon Awards, the film was named Best Picture, and Aoi Yu and Fuji Sumiko won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

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Product Title:	Hula Girls (2-DVD Widescreen) (Uncut Special Edition) (US Version) 草裙娃娃呼啦啦 (DVD) (雙碟闊銀幕) (未經刪剪版) (美國版) 草裙娃娃呼啦啦 (DVD) (双碟阔银幕) (未经删剪版) (美国版) Hula Girls (2-Disc Set; Uncut; Special Edition) (US Version) Hula Girls (2-Disc Set; Uncut; Special Edition) (US Version)
Artist Name(s):	Toyokawa Etsushi (Actor) | Ichihara Hayato (Actor) | Kishibe Ittoku (Actor) | Matsuyuki Yasuko (Actor) | Hitomi Ishihara 豐川悅司 (Actor) | 市原隼人 (Actor) | 岸部一德 (Actor) | 松雪泰子 (Actor) | Hitomi Ishihara 丰川悦司 (Actor) | 市原隼人 (Actor) | 岸部一德 (Actor) | 松雪泰子 (Actor) | Hitomi Ishihara 豊川悦司 (Actor) | 市原隼人 (Actor) | Kishibe Ittoku (Actor) | 松雪泰子 (Actor) | Hitomi Ishihara Toyokawa Etsushi (Actor) | Ichihara Hayato (Actor) | Kishibe Ittoku (Actor) | Matsuyuki Yasuko (Actor) | Hitomi Ishihara
Director:	Kouzo Shibasaki Kouzo Shibasaki Kouzo Shibasaki Kouzo Shibasaki Kouzo Shibasaki
Producer:	Hitomi Ishihara Hitomi Ishihara Hitomi Ishihara Hitomi Ishihara Hitomi Ishihara
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Release Date:	2007-11-06
UPC Code:	896911001072
Language:	Japanese
Subtitles:	English
Country of Origin:	Japan
Picture Format:	NTSC What is it?
Color Information:	Color
Disc Format(s):	DVD
Region Code:	1 - USA, Canada, U.S. Territories What is it?
Rating:	Not Rated
Publisher:	Viz Media, LLC.
Other Information:	2 DVDs
Package Weight:	180 (g)
Shipment Unit:	1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.:	1005054427

Director: Sang-il Lee

DVD Features:

2-Disc Set
Region 1
Keep Case
Special Edition
Unedited
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
(unspecified) - Japanese
Subtitles - English - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: "How to Be a Hula Girl"
Documentary: "Hula Girls: The Real Story"
Behind the Scenes: "The Making of HULA GIRLS"
Interviews: Jake Shimabukuro - Composer ("An Interview with Jake Shimabukuro")
Trailers: Original Japanese Trailers
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biographies:
1. Sang-il Lee - Director
2. Cast