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Elegant ballroom music and seductive Latin steps. 10Dance is a film about opposites, both in life and in dance.
A film adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name, it transforms the passion for dance into an introspective vision of love and a battle for control.
Welcome to the seventh episode of AbbyNormal Reviews where I share thoughts on movies I watch. Today we talk about 10 Dance. I really liked it (but im biased cos i love Keita Machida)
The story follows Suzuki Shinya, a champion Latin dancer, and Sugiki Shinya, a champion ballroom dancer.
Suzuki's dance partner, eager to participate in the famous 10dance, asks Sugiki and his partner to be their ballroom dancing instructors.
The four begin practicing together, learning from each other.
However, rivalry lingers and both men find it difficult to step down from their pedestals.
Despite this, the passion they feel in the ballroom begins to creep into their private lives.
We learn about Sugiki's turbulent past and his relationship with Liana, his first dance partner, who left him for success, teaming up with Giulio and thus reaching world number one.
The relationship between the two doesn't seem truly over in Suzuki's eyes and he can't help but feel jealous.
“Show, don’t tell.” they told us in writing class and here they really showed it. Photography is used impeccably to present the protagonists’ personalities, without the need for dialogue.
Sugiki, a more stoic and elegant man, is illuminated by warm lights, highlighting his perfect form. His spaces are enclosed, luxurious restaurants and stuffy ballrooms, all symbolizing his desire to conceal his emotions. In contrast, Suzuki is followed by a handheld camera that reveals his overwhelming energy. Neon lights and open, festive spaces surround him. Even his studio, bright and spacious, reflects his authentic self.
Everything leads back to a clear vision of how the two behave when it comes to the theme of love: One more closed and reluctant, the other open and without barriers.
The choice of music perfectly matches the two's moods. Pieces like "Bésame Mucho" or Chopin's "Waltz du Minuet" accompany key moments, representing love and conflict.
Neither actor, Keita nor Ryoma, had professional dance experience, yet they manage to leave a lasting impression on the viewer, who perceives every emotional detail, from trembling hands to microexpressions.
The film also addresses the theme of sexuality, treated not as a conversion, but as a discovery. Both have had relationships with other women, but when they find themselves dancing together, they realize there's something more. It's not just about sexuality and seduction, but about trust and vulnerability.
10dance stands out in the Japanese dance scene for its mature and physical approach to the relationship between two men. It doesn't need labels, just understanding each other through movement.
A passionate and captivating film, where the themes of dance and love coexist without overpowering each other. A beautiful yet not overly demanding film that leaves you wanting more after the open-ended finale, which, despite the title and the build-up to the competition, ends before the 10Dance.
If you like love stories and really high tension, this movie is for you.
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Alex "il miet" Isabelle
I find there's always something suggestive in using dance as a way to tell a story. At the end of the day every kind of communication begins with movement, and I really find dance to be the most primitive of all arts. I didn't care much about dance in the past, especially latin ones, and to a certain extent I still do, but in fact every film I saw where it was used somehow, either being the main topic or just something ancillary, always spoke deeply to me.