Josef Kubota Wladyka’s Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! is an uplifting blend of comedy, drama, and romance that finds hope in the unlikeliest places.
The film is centered on Haru, a passionate ballroom dancer whose life is shattered by tragedy before an unexpected opportunity rekindles her love for dance and life itself.
Directed by Wladyka, whose previous features Manos Sucias and Catch the Fair One earned critical acclaim, it stars Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi alongside Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, YOU, Yoh Yoshida, and Damián Alcázar.
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! made its world premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned Josef Kubota Wladyka the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic. Shortly after its Sundance debut, Sony Pictures Classics acquired worldwide distribution rights, and is now slated to open in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026.
According to Sony Pictures Classics, the official synopsis reads: “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.”
Speaking at Sundance, Josef Kubota Wladyka revealed the deeply personal inspiration behind the project. “The film isn’t autobiographical in any way, but it’s very much a sort of devotion to her spirit,” he said, referring to his mother, who, at 81 years old, is still an amateur ballroom dancer, and who inspired the story.
He added, “My mom has been through a lot of tribulations in her life. She had to raise three boys on her own, and the one thing that she always fell back on to help her get through the hard times was dancing. So we very much wanted to create this film that was sort of an homage to her to show you that no matter how messy life gets, you got to keep moving forward and you’ve got to keep dancing.”
In their review, TheWrap critic Katie Rife noted that while the film embraces quirky storytelling, it succeeds because of Rinko Kikuchi’s compelling performance. Rife writes that “Kinkuchi’s strong, singular presence immerses the viewer in her character’s whimsical imagination and confusing emotions. She makes Haru a character worth rooting for — even, or perhaps especially, when she’s making all the wrong decisions.”
Watch the official trailer for Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! above.
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