Stars: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Barry Otto, Peter Whitford, Gia Carides

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Summary: An inspired male ballroom dancer is warned by the Dance Federation not to alter traditional ballroom steps. When his partner leaves him he is rescued by the unsightly Fran.

A top ballroom dancer pairs with a plain, left-footed local girl when his maverick style earns him the disdain of his more conventionally-minded colleagues. Together, the team gives it their all and makes dreams of the National Championship title come true. Directed in a delicious high-key style by director Luhrmann (WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET) in his madcap debut.

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Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on April 2, 2006 11:51 AM

From the director of Moulin Rouge and Romeo & Juliet , Baz Luhrmann , comes this wonderfully kitsch and amusing tale set in the super - tanned and garish world of Australian ballroom dancing .
Scott Hastings ( Paul Mercurio ) is a talented ballroom dancing champion who longs to dance his own steps and follow his dreams.
This results in being dumped by his partner and chastened by all those around him , except 2 people . 1 is Fran , the ugly duckling of the school who persuades him to let her dance with him , eventually stealing his heart . The other is his father . Heartwarming tale .

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While the plot of this Australian film may seem a bit familiar (the Ugly Duckling meets Dirty Dancing), the humourous tone and superb dance sequences will make you forget the movie's predictability. Scott (Paul Mercurio) is a champion ballroom dancer who wants to dance "his own steps". Fran is the homely, beginning dancer who convinces Scott that he should dance his own steps...with her. Complicating matters are Scott's domineering mother (Pat Thompson), a former dancer herself, who wants her son to win the Australian Pan-Pacific Championship (the same contest she lost years ago), and a conniving dance committee that is determined that "there are no new steps!" The dancing is enjoyable, yet not overwhelming, and the movie strives hard not to take itself too seriously (the beginning of the film is even styled as a pseudo-documentary). Strictly Ballroom, while not so subtly imparting its moral ("A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"), is a funny romp that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Behind The Scenes Documentary, Original Movie Trailer, John Paul Young Love Is In The Air Music Video
Year:	1992
Release Date:	January 28, 2002
Runtime:	90 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	37115 02443
Keywords:	Special, Comedy, General, Edition, Wide, Screen, Ballroom, Drama, Strictly, Collector's
Genre:	Drama