“Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” is a Tokyo-set drama that explores grief, love, and the power of dance through the story of Haru, a widow struggling to move on after the sudden death of her husband and dance partner, Luis. Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka, the film stars Rinko Kikuchi as Haru, whose life has been intimately tied to ballroom dancing, a passion she initially abandons following Luis’ fatal heart attack.

The story begins by establishing the deep connection between Haru, a Japanese woman, and Luis, a Mexican dancer, whose shared language is not only their native tongues but also the art of ballroom dance. Their relationship is vividly portrayed with a surreal moment capturing the transcendence of dance, symbolizing their profound bond. A year after Luis’ passing, Haru remains consumed by grief, reluctant to return to the dance floor. Eventually, she takes a dance class to coax herself out of isolation, meeting Fedir (Alberto Guerra), a charismatic instructor formerly seen on “Dancing With the Stars.” Although Haru and Fedir share undeniable chemistry, complications arise from Haru’s ongoing mourning and Fedir’s open marriage to fellow dancer Mila (Keren Louis).

Wladyka’s film attempts to blend bittersweet drama with moments of absurdist fantasy, occasionally veering into cutesy territory. Rather than confronting her loss directly, Haru conceals the truth of Luis’ death from Fedir and fabricates an unconventional relationship status to cover up her vulnerability. This plot device, along with an increasingly convoluted love triangle, detracts from the film’s initial emotional impact.

The narrative incorporates a variety of ballroom styles, including rumba, tango, and cha-cha-cha, emphasizing both the athleticism and artistry intrinsic to competitive dance. As Haru and Fedir’s relationship develops through these shared movements, the film simultaneously showcases the physical expression of longing and desire. However, Wladyka’s use of imaginative dance sequences—turning everyday encounters into stylized performances—at times undermines the film’s tone, shifting from poignant to overly whimsical without a clear purpose.

The film gestures toward engaging themes such as overcoming loss and challenging traditional views on monogamy through its depiction of open relationships but ultimately opts for a more conventional resolution. The arrival of Mila introduces tension but is resolved without fully exploring the complexities of these dynamics, leaving some narrative threads underdeveloped.

“Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” strives to be a celebration of dance as a healing art form but struggles with tonal inconsistency and narrative choices that limit its emotional resonance. While Kikuchi delivers a compelling performance, and the dance sequences provide aesthetic highlights, the film does not consistently find its footing in balancing fantasy, grief, and romance.