Family relationships and own passions are sometimes different and an individual has to find ways to focus on a matter which can be misunderstood by the people closest to them. The movie “Shall We Dance” touches upon themes which describe the actions of a person who tries to follow own dreams and wants.
There are several major themes that are illustrated in the movie which relate to personal life, family and outside opinion. Person’s private wants are frames that set the limits for the actions and goals of an individual. In the movie, the character lives in an environment that sets boundaries on his needs. He is unable to escape the routine and so, he decides to pursue something new and much wanted.
It is clear that when a person feels trapped, they will try different ways to change their life and sometimes, the avenues they take may be seen as farfetched from an uninvolved perspective (Michaels 30). The movie makes it obvious that a person is almost forced to change something about their life.
When there is no particular interest in daily life and no passion that can serve as a following, an individual might lose track of what is important and wonder off from the relationship or regular duties.
As the movie shows, a sight of a dancing teacher attracts the main character and he starts to lead another life altogether. The circumstances which are based on a routine and the need to find a goal create conditions that lead to alternate lifestyle.
The fact that a person makes changes in their life and chooses to have a secret passion proves a lot about their individuality and personal needs. Unfortunately, the things that someone desires can sometimes be separate from the social norms and people might not approve of an individual in their pursuit of happiness.
This leads a person to hide their actions and lead a life of secrecy which is uncomfortable to the individual and people that are around (Chambers 41). The movie shows how the culture and traditions of society might see the dance classes as something unordinary and so, the character is forced to hide his dreams and the need to fulfill his wants. This creates a lot of uneasy feelings and one wonders if it is really a way to live a life.
The movie shows a struggle that the main character has and it is often a conflict between his duties and personal feelings. It is made clear that a man has to struggle with the way he is represented in the society and in his family. The secrecy of his dance classes puts him in a unique position with his spouse.
The American remake of the movie shows a much different place from the original environment intended. The Japanese version shows how much demand there is from a person in a place that limits the dreams of an individual, no matter how much stress it creates in their personal life (Dubois 31).
Very often, people have to deal with the separation from themselves in following what the culture and society determines. The social roles define the way an individual has to behave and getting themselves involved in a dance class can be misunderstood by people from the close surrounding. The society demands that males act as the keeper of the home and director of family life.
It cannot be understood by the majority when someone decides to act on own will and disobey the usual order of things (Edwards 6). The original version of the movie shows how much the Japanese life conforms an individual to the common task and the following of the order. Anyone trapped in this sort of environment can be much pressured by the society and the norms that are being set every day.
The tension that builds up, leads a person to rebel against the norm and do something that is unordinary of the socially accepted regularities. The fact that a man chooses to take dance classes sets him apart from his wife and this shows how much a person in not the owner of their own feelings.
The overall effect of the movie is very convincing. It creates a perspective that everyone can relate with, in connection to their personal dreams and goals. The life shown is representative of all the people who are unable to achieve their dreams and are forced to live in a mid of conservative rules (Bechtel 10).
The society puts the individual down and so, people are unhappy and depressed which directly reflects on their family and social life. The romantic relationship between husband and wife is shown as tightened by the restraints that the society sets. It is unnatural that two people have to be in such a situation where one person has to hide and deceive their true identity.
The psychological strain is very unhealthy and this is clearly shown in the movie. The viewer is faced with a basic assumption that the conditions of a person’s life are much stronger than that of individual need. The complexity of a character is linked with the experiences that one has and past predispositions.
A person is taught to behave a certain way in a society and the failure to maintain the set criteria will defer that individual from the community and accepted behavior. The complexity of an individual and human behavior is not studied as well as other aspects of life, especially in a society that is formed by harsh criteria.
Overall, the movie had several deeper themes that were not as obvious from the first look. The emphasis was on the character and society illustrated by the physical environment that a person has to deal with. The objectives and individual approach to matters is examined and shown to be insignificant at times.
It is very important that the context of life, in relation to personal goals and family is taken into account where each person must decide what is important to them (Weiten 77). In the end, the sort of behavior exhibited by the main character proved to be beneficial for the family.
When someone has a chance to follow their dreams, it adds comfort and sense of accomplishment to their personal life which has close relation to the family. An individual is able to commit and be psychologically healthy when their own desires are fulfilled.
The culture, society and traditions are all parts of the system that determine the life of individuals and their families. The movie “Shall We Dance” shows a clear struggle between a person and the social boundaries that are set. The theme of breaking away and following own dreams is shown to be the ultimate goal.
Works Cited
Bechtel, Robert. Handbook of Environmental Psychology. New York, United States: John Wiley & Sons, 2003. Print.
Chambers, Deborah. A Sociology of Family Life. Malden, United States: Polity, 2012. Print.
Dubois, Nicole. Sociocognitive Approach to Social Norms. New York, United States: Routledge, 2003. Print.
Edwards, Michael. Civil Society. Malden, United States: Polity, 2009. Print.
Michaels, Kasey. Shall We Dance? Richmond, United Kingdom: Mills & Boon, 2011. Print.
Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. Belmont, United States: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.