Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Ballroom

Background: Australian romantic comedy film (1992)

Director: Baz Luhrmann

< Strictly Ballroom> has pointed out current society phenomenon- social conformity. According to social psychologist Johnny Rocco, most of the people follow rules as they afraid others might look them as a weirdo. Just like the theme of this movie- “courage”, is the lack for most of the people as we afraid to take the risk for failure and be different. We hope to have a better, different life but at the same time, we afraid of making changes. We choose to be obedience, compliance and follow rules as we scare to step out from our comfort zone and not dare to face unpredictable situations. We give up easily while being threatened or scared.

Think of the name of this movie- ‘Strictly Ballroom’. Dance, is kind of art, a way to express feelings and emotions. It should be freestyle, creatively and randomly. However, the words “strictly” just like a cage trapped the freedom soul. Our inner self- hope to dance freely and creatively but we afraid to break the rules as no one did that before. So we force ourselves to follow the majority as we do not dare to defend our right, afraid of failure and being treated as weird.

The main character in this movie, Scott is a talent dancer who prefers to dance in his own style. At first, he tried to break the tradition, ignore others opinion, dance what he wants. However, when the moment he realizes that what he did might affect his family reputation, he began to hesitate. His partner, Fran is a brave girl who dares to challenge herself. Her life quote is ‘Life with fear is a half- lived’. This quote impressed me. Yeah, we only lived once. Why should we live our life by following others rules instead of living in the way we chasing? Why should we waste our precious time on fear, disgust, depressed… those negative feeling. Why should we let other decide and affect our life? Fran used to be a not important character in the dancing studio. She was just a beginner dancer. However, she dares to ask Scott, a professional and talented dancer to be her dancing partner to participate an important dancing competition and in the dancing style that not approve the rules. Transformation of her is biggest. From unknown character until a dancing queen, she influenced Scott to insist his dream. Instead of physical changes, her inner change is more obvious. Her confidence and passion towards dancing affect Scott a lot. 

                                   

                                                   Trailer of Strictly Ballroom (1992)